What's Happening?
A consortium of private donors, including the Breakthrough Prize Foundation and The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation, has pledged 860 million euros towards the construction of the Future Circular Collider (FCC) at CERN. This marks
the first time private donors have partnered with CERN for such a significant research project. The FCC is proposed as the successor to the Large Hadron Collider and aims to advance the understanding of fundamental physics, particularly the Higgs boson. The project is part of the ongoing update to the European Strategy for Particle Physics, with a decision expected by the CERN Council in May 2026.
Why It's Important?
The involvement of private donors in funding the FCC represents a significant shift in how large-scale scientific projects can be financed, potentially accelerating advancements in particle physics. The FCC is expected to drive technological innovations across various fields, including medicine and computing, while also training a new generation of scientists. This project could deepen the understanding of the Standard Model and explore new physics, impacting scientific knowledge and technological development globally.
What's Next?
The CERN Council is expected to make a decision on the construction of the FCC by 2028. If approved, the FCC would become operational in the mid-2040s, succeeding the Large Hadron Collider. The project is also included in the European Commission's draft Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034, indicating strong institutional support. The outcome of this decision will influence the future direction of particle physics research and its societal benefits.
