Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless is today making an official visit to the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) with a delegation of representatives from over twenty Irish organisations.
Speaking from Geneva, Minister Lawless said:
“Associate Membership of CERN has long been a national goal, and it is a pleasure to work on bringing Ireland into this world-leading centre for scientific research.
“I am delighted to say that Ireland’s application is at an advanced stage and we are hoping to join in early 2026.
“I would like to thank CERN for welcoming us to their facilities to build relationships that will be the foundation of a successful collaboration for years to come.
“While CERN is world-renowned for its fundamental research in particle physics, there are cutting-edge activities across many fields including engineering, computing, photonics, advanced materials and medical technology.
“CERN research has also had a real impact on everyday life, for instance, it led to the creation of the World Wide Web, PET scanning, major cancer treatment advancements and even the smartphone touchscreen tech you hold in your hand.
“It is exciting to think of the Irish students, researchers and entrepreneurs who will have opportunities to contribute to the incredible work carried out there.”
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris said:
“I am pleased to hear that Ireland’s application to CERN is progressing well.
“Ireland’s Associate Membership of CERN will be transformative for the Irish research community.
“Irish research activity will grow closer to that of our European partners and create stronger links with science worldwide.
“Our membership will pave the way for greater investment in Irish science, driving forward discovery and technological advancement.”
As part of the visit, Minister Lawless will meet with senior officials at CERN including the Director-General, Dr Fabiola Gianotti, and the Director of International Relations, Ms Charlotte Lindberg Warakaulle.
The group will discuss the opportunities that Associate Membership will bring for Ireland and CERN. The Minister will also meet with the leaders of the CERN experiments where Irish institutions are already active.
The delegation visiting CERN includes representatives from education, research and industry. The Minister is accompanied by Ambassador Noel White, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva.
Ireland applied for Associate Membership of CERN in November 2023. Subject to funding requirements and Dáil approval, it is expected that Ireland will complete the accession process in 2026.
The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) is an intergovernmental organisation that operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. CERN is the leading global collaboration investigating the fundamental composition of matter. It was established in 1954 and straddles the Franco-Swiss border, just outside Geneva. CERN currently has twenty-four Member States and ten Associate Member States, two of which are in the pre-stage to full membership. Additionally CERN has co-operation agreements with over 40 other states.
The main focus of activity in CERN is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). This is an underground ring which is 27km in circumference in which protons, one of the constituent particles of an atom, are accelerated to 99.9999991% of the speed of light and collided into one another. The LHC was used to discover the Higgs boson in 2012. CERN also plays a leading role in promoting and organising international cooperation in scientific research. CERN research has resulted in impactful technology including the World Wide Web and medical applications.
In brief, the key reasons for Ireland to join CERN are as follows:
- fundamental research - CERN membership would give Irish citizens access to world-leading scientific facilities and collaborations investigating the fundamental building blocks of the universe
- applied research - the technologies required for CERN research themselves are often novel and require cutting-edge skills in photonics, micro-electronics and other areas
- education and training - CERN has opportunities for Irish students, teachers, scientists and engineers at every stage from apprenticeships to undergraduate and graduate studies and throughout their professional careers
- jobs at CERN - Irish citizens would be eligible to work at CERN
- knowledge transfer – CERN actively facilitates industry and researchers to identify practical applications for CERN technologies
- contracts - Irish companies will be eligible to compete for contracts of CERN
- health – CERN is involved in developing emerging technologies for medical imaging and for hadron therapy
- big data - CERN produces an enormous volume of data and can be a useful market and spur innovation for computing and software enterprises
- European alignment - align Irish science strategy closer to that of our European partners and create stronger links with worldwide science and scientists
- reputation - Increase the reputation of Ireland as a high-tech scientifically engaged nation
- Science for Peace - CERN is also a platform for peaceful international relations and science diplomacy
The CERN experiments where Ireland currently has a presence are CMS, LHCb and ATLAS. University College Dublin has worked with CERN on the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) and LHCb collaborations since the early 2000s. Trinity College Dublin have recently joined the CMS collaboration, and Munster Technological University is a Technical Associate Institute of the ATLAS collaboration at CERN as of December 2024.
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