European Organization for Nuclear Research

Investment thesis

CERN exists to conduct fundamental research in particle physics and to push the limits of technology for the benefit of society [1]. It operates the world’s largest particle physics laboratory and the Large Hadron Collider, serving as a global hub for scientific collaboration [1]. The strategic agenda focuses on exploring the fundamental structure of the universe, developing next-generation accelerator technologies, and transferring high-impact innovations to society [1].

• Fundamental Physics: Investigating the building blocks of matter and the forces that govern the universe, including dark matter, neutrinos, and the Higgs boson [1].
• Accelerator Technology: Developing and operating the world’s most powerful particle accelerators, such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the future High-Luminosity LHC (HiLumi LHC) [1].
• Technology Transfer: Driving innovation through the development of advanced technologies in computing, materials science, and medical imaging, which are then applied to benefit society [1].
• Global Collaboration: Bringing together scientists and engineers from member states and beyond to tackle complex scientific challenges that no single nation could address alone [1].

Credibility: CERN’s mission and key achievements are detailed on its official website, including the discovery of the Higgs boson and the invention of the World Wide Web [1].

Value add

CERN offers unparalleled access to cutting-edge research facilities and a global network of scientists [1].

• Facilities Access: Members can access world-class accelerators and detectors for their research [1].
• Collaboration Network: Join a global community of leading scientists and engineers [1].
• Technology Transfer: Benefit from CERN’s open innovation model, which has led to technologies like the World Wide Web [1].
• Fit verdict: CERN is not a funder for startups or commercial entities. It is a research organisation for fundamental science.
• Founder diligence script:

1. Does my project align with CERN’s research agenda in particle physics or accelerator technology? 2. Can I collaborate with CERN through my home institution or a member state? 3. Is there a technology transfer opportunity for my startup based on CERN-developed technologies? 4. Am I eligible for CERN fellowships or training programmes as an individual researcher? 5. Does my project require access to CERN’s unique facilities, and can I secure collaboration through a member state?

Portfolio focus

CERN’s research portfolio is focused on fundamental physics and accelerator technology [1].

• Higgs Boson Research: The discovery and study of the Higgs boson, which explains how particles acquire mass [1].
• Dark Matter and Neutrinos: Investigating the nature of dark matter and the properties of neutrinos [1].
• Accelerator Development: Building and upgrading particle accelerators, such as the Large Hadron Collider and the Antiproton Decelerator [1].
• Detector Technology: Developing advanced detectors for particle physics experiments, such as ATLAS, CMS, ALICE, and LHCb [1].
• Computing and Data: Managing and processing vast amounts of data from particle collisions using the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG) [1].