Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities promotes participation of Spanish companies in CERN

During the event, CERN experts will outline the organisation's medium- and long-term industrial opportunities to some 60 Spanish companies. The aim is to increase the presence of the Spanish industrial fabric in CERN, enhance Spanish presence in key technologies and improve knowledge and the confidence of CERN experts in Spanish industrial capabilities.

Spanish companies have increased their presence in CERN in recent years, achieving a high degree of participation in projects that for many companies have meant that, for the first time, they can develop high added value industrial activities in a competitive international environment. This participation has also contributed to many companies competing for contracts in other first order international organisations, such as the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project.

During the visit, a declaration of intent was also signed to set up a partnership between the Energy, Environment and Technology Research Centre (Spanish acronym: CIEMAT), the Centre for Industrial Technology Development (Spanish acronym: CDTI) and CERN to develop high field magnets.

The Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities held a meeting with some of the 470 Spanish workers at CERN, at which he highlighted that almost two thirds of these workers are developing scientific and technological projects of great interest, which shows the quality of training and the high level of science and innovation in Spain. The minister ended by stressing Spain's firm commitment to CERN, a body that represents a good example of the transfer of knowledge to the productive system.

Spanish participation

Spain has been a member of CERN since 1983. CERN is one of the main international scientific infrastructures with Spanish participation, with an annual contribution that accounts for more than 7% of its total budget, thus meaning it is the fifth leading contributor, behind Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy. It is noteworthy that Spain has had industrial returns over the last three years in excess of 106%.

Non official translation