Irish academics have been calling for the country to join CERN for years.
Ireland has signed an agreement becoming an associate member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), nearly two years after applying for membership.
While it is subject to funding requirements and Dáil approval, it is expected that Ireland will complete the accession process this year.
Yesterday (8 May), Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, TD, attended the signing ceremony at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland.
Speaking at the ceremony, the minister said that the membership will provide Ireland access to “excellent research, innovation, collaboration and industry contracts”.
CERN is one of the biggest scientific research centres in the world, bringing together around 18,000 researchers. It is the organisation behind the Large Hadron Collider – the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator.
Ireland’s membership of CERN opens up vast opportunities for Irish citizens. Once the accession is completed, Irish citizens can apply for jobs with the research centre, while Irish academics can apply for CERN research projects.
Moreover, the membership will also allow Irish businesses to compete in CERN procurement programmes.
The country is one of the last in the EU to join the organisation – with Irish academics calling for membership for many years.
The agreement represents the “ culmination of significant work by the government and CERN, building on the excellence of the Irish physics community”, Lawless said.
“This long-term international commitment to our scientific community will demonstrate the Irish Government’s continued and expanding support of Ireland’s participation in leading global research collaborations.”
The associate membership will cost Ireland about €1.9m annually for an initial period of five years.
CERN’s director-general Fabiola Gianotti said that Irish scientists have been involved with the organisation’s activities for more than two decades, working in varied fields including experimental physics, theory, medical applications and computer science.
“This agreement enables us to enhance our collaboration, opening up a broad range of new and mutually beneficial opportunities in fundamental research, technological developments and innovation, and education and training activities,” Gianotti said.
A CERN taskforce arrived in Ireland last year to assess its membership bid. Following its approval, the country’s application was accepted in principle earlier this year.
Currently, 24 nations are full members of CERN, with eight associate members – with Ireland now set to be the ninth.
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