70 years of CERN: A legacy of discoveries and a vision for the future

CERN was founded in 1954 with the aim of promoting peaceful international cooperation through science. Twelve European countries, including Switzerland, signed the founding charter to build a centre for fundamental particle physics research on the French-Swiss border near Geneva. CERN’s mission was clear: to better understand the universe by studying the smallest particles of matter. Today, CERN has 24 member states, employs around 2,500 people, and is host to over 12,000 scientists from 110 countries. It has become a symbol of scientific cooperation across borders. 

A look to the future and the next challenge

Long-term, strategic and ambitious planning is essential for research facilities as large and important as CERN. A feasibility study for the construction of the Future Circular Collider (FCC) is being carried out until 2025 on behalf of the CERN Council, which is made up of representatives of the 24 member states.

If built, the FCC would probe areas of particle physics that are still largely unexplored; the Standard Model of particle physics explains only visible matter, which makes up about five per cent of the universe. It leaves important phenomena such as dark matter and dark energy unexplained.

With a circumference of just under 91 kilometres, the FCC would be about three times the size of the Large Hadron Collider and would reach energies ten times higher. Researchers would be able to study particle collisions with a precision never before achieved and on a scale never before seen. The technologies developed for the FCC could drive innovation in areas such as computing, energy, medical imaging, cancer therapies, data processing and artificial intelligence.

If the results of the feasibility study are positive, the CERN member states will be able to decide on the construction of the FCC in 2027/2028 at the earliest. The project would provide scientific insights until the end of the century.

Switzerland’s role and commitment

As a host country of CERN, Switzerland has contributed to the laboratory’s success over its 70-year history. The strong partnerships between CERN and Swiss institutions reflect our country’s commitment to education, research and innovation. Switzerland will continue to play an important role in supporting CERN’s pioneering work and ensuring that the laboratory remains a centre of scientific excellence.