CERN council says Slovenia's prepared for full membership
Ljubljana, 27 September - The council of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has given Slovenia a positive assessment of its preparedness for full CERN membership, tasking CERN director general Fabiola Gianotti to negotiate further steps with the country, which could join CERN in early 2025.
Geneva, Switzerland
CERN .
Photo: Lea Udovč/STA
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The council based its decision on a report by a group of experts who visited Slovenia at the start of 2024, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation said on Friday.
The experts had talked with the ministry's representatives, scientists and researchers, as well as with higher education and business representatives.
"In the report, the expert group highlighted ... the outstanding support provided by higher education and research institutions to researchers and research teams in strengthening their cooperation with CERN," the ministry said. The report also highlights cooperation between Slovenia and CERN in scientific computing.
Minister Igor Papič hailed the council's decision as "an outstanding recognition for Slovenia and its research community".
He is confident that with Slovenia's full CERN membership, Slovenian researchers and businesses will get more opportunities to work with CERN.
At the moment there are around 20 Slovenian companies that work with CERN, while many more could join in the future.
The ministry will present opportunities for cooperation, as well as further step to join CERN, at a news conference next Friday.
Slovenia signed an association agreement with CERN in 2016, while it planned to join CERN this July, which was deferred to 2025, also due to CERN's internal procedures.
To become a full member, a country needs to meet a number of criteria.