In a first for CERN, private donors will support the proposed Future Circular Collider to the tune of $1bn.
A group of ‘friends of CERN’, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, have pledged funds towards the construction of the Future Circular Collider (FCC), the proposed successor to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). They include the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation, and entrepreneurs John Elkann and Xavier Niel,
According to CERN, the potential contributions total some $1bn, representing a major private sector investment in the advancement of research in fundamental physics. CERN has said for some time that a more powerful collider is needed “to continue the historic human quest to explore and understand the universe”.
“It’s the first time in history that private donors wish to partner with CERN to build an extraordinary research instrument that will allow humanity to take major steps forward in our understanding of fundamental physics and the universe,” said CERN director-general Fabiola Gianotti.
“I am profoundly grateful to them for their generosity, vision and unwavering commitment to knowledge and exploration. Their support is essential to the prospective realisation of the FCC and to enabling future generations of scientists to push the frontiers of scientific discovery and technology.”
“The Future Circular Collider is an instrument that could push the boundaries of human knowledge and deepen our understanding of the fundamental laws of the universe,” said former Google boss Eric Schmidt.
“Beyond the science, the technologies emerging from this project could benefit society in profound ways, from medicine to computing to sustainable energy, while training a new generation of innovators and problem-solvers.”
“Understanding the fundamental nature of our universe is the mission that unites humanity,” said Dr S Pete Worden, chair of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. “We’re proud to support the creation of the most powerful scientific instrument in history, that can shed new light on the deepest questions humanity can ask.”
President of the CERN Council, Prof Costas Fountas said this interest from private donors in CERN’s flagship project demonstrated CERN’s relevance and positive impact on society “and the strong interest in CERN’s future that exists well beyond our own particle physics community”.
The FCC was also included among 11 proposed ‘Moonshot’ projects in the draft Multiannual Financial Framework for the years 2028-2034, released by the European Commission in July.
If approved by the CERN member states, with its circumference of 91km, the FCC would succeed the Large Hadron Collider in the mid-2040s. A decision by the CERN Council on the construction of the FCC is expected around 2028.
In October, Ireland officially joined CERN as an associate member, bringing a range of benefits to the country. Ireland’s researchers will have increased access to CERN’s scientific programmes, and are eligible for staff positions and fellowships at CERN, while enterprises can now compete in CERN procurement programmes.
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