Innovation Europe > News > Innovation EU Vol1-1 > CERN - European Organization for Nuclear Research

CERN is renowned worldwide for its discoveries in particle physics, shedding light on the origin of the universe. What is perhaps less well known is the diversity of knowledge and technologies developed at CERN, which are making an impact in domains as different as cancer therapy, medical imaging, renewable energies and materials science.

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), located on the French- Swiss border near Geneva, is about to switch on its Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the largest scientific instrument ever built. The LHC and its experiments are the result of an international collaboration involving academic institutes and industries from countries worldwide. Together they consist of some 100 million components, installed in a 27 km-long circular tunnel, 100 metres below ground. A number of leading-edge technologies are exploited and pushed to the limit in the machine, the associated particle detectors and the data-processing systems, including ultra-high vacuum, superconducting magnets, ultra-fast electronics, grid computing and many others.

These facts probably give an idea of CERN’s potential for knowledge and technology transfer. Exploiting this potential is the goal of the Knowledge & Technology Transfer (KTT) Group, explains Claudio Parrinello, head of the Group. This unit is in charge of identifying knowledge at CERN that is transferable outside the domain of particle physics, protecting CERN intellectual property whenever appropriate, and then enabling the transfer process.

The KTT Group capitalises on CERN’s technology portfolio, which is very diverse and versatile. The main application domains are currently in the health sector (hadron therapy and medical imaging), X-ray-based material analysis, renewable energies (high-performance solar panels) and information technology.

Different technology transfer scenarios are possible, including licensing of technology, consulting, R&D partnerships, etc. In this respect, Claudio Parrinello emphasises that industrial partnerships with CERN are by no means reserved for big players – in fact, some start-up companies and SMEs are currently benefitting from partnerships with CERN. The KTT Group is committed to identifying the most appropriate transfer scenario depending on each partner’s goals and needs.

Additional knowledge transfer activities are made possible by CERN’s strong track record in creating mobility initiatives and delivering high-level training. Every year, over 1,200 students, scientists and engineers, with profiles ranging from undergraduates to senior scientists, participate in CERN’s Fellows, Associates and Students (FAS) Programmes. These programmes enable junior participants to receive training (both through lectures and on-the-job) in a multicultural and multilingual environment, and allow senior participants to contribute to the broadening of the skills and expertise portfolio available at CERN.

Today, over 12,000 people from more than 100 countries participate in CERN’s activities. As a large organisation with a high turnover of its personnel (which is typical of research institutions) and a natural attitude to networking activities, CERN will soon launch an “Alumni” scheme for former members of the personnel. This scheme will have a corporate counterpart, ie a scheme offering all companies and research institutes based in CERN’s 20 member states a direct communication channel with CERN as well as the possibility to liaise with each other. The aim of such global networking initiatives is to foster additional knowledge and technology transfer, by increasing the visibility of a broad range of partnership opportunities with CERN.

Not surprisingly, networking is a key word at the place where the Web was born!

Dr C Parrinello, Head of Knowledge &
Technology Transfer Group
CERN – European Organization for
Nuclear Research
CH-1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0)22 767 3952
E-mail: claudio.parrinello@cern.ch
Website: http://technologytransfer.web.
cern.ch/TechnologyTransfer/