The CERN Council recently received recommendations on the update of the European Particle Physics Strategy at its 225th session.
The aim of the European Particle Physics Strategy is to develop a common vision for the future of the field, and decisions on this basis will be considered in the coming months.
“The ESG Recommendation is a crucial milestone for the strategic process and the future of the sector,” said CERN Director-General Fabiola Gianotti.
“The proposed strategic direction, especially for CERN’s next flagship collider, will inspire the next generation of scientists and ensure that CERN and its international partners remain at the forefront of discovery and technology in our field.”
The final decision will be taken at a dedicated board meeting in Budapest in May 2026.
Advances in human knowledge in fundamental physics
The update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics (ESPP) process, starting in March 2024, aims to develop a visionary and concrete plan to significantly advance human knowledge in fundamental physics by delivering CERN’s next flagship project.
The plan aims to attract and promote international cooperation and enable Europe to continue to play a leading role in this field.
ESPP is a bottom-up process involving the European particle physics community and includes national input from CERN member and associate member states and international partners.
This opinion is evaluated and synthesized by the European Strategy Group (ESG), a body appointed by the CERN Council.
2026 update on the European particle physics strategy
For the ESPP’s 2026 update, the CERN Council requested that the strategy update include a preferred option for CERN’s next collider, as well as prioritized alternative options to pursue if the chosen preferred plan proves unfeasible or uncompetitive.
ESG drafted its recommendations at a dedicated meeting held in Ascona, Switzerland from 1 to 5 December 2025.
The council aims to evaluate the recommendations in the coming months and take a decision at a dedicated meeting in Budapest in May 2026.
Could a future circular collider become CERN’s flagship?
The Electron-Positron Future Circular Collider (FCC-ee) has been recommended as the preferred option for CERN’s next flagship collider.
It will provide a platform for forward-looking physics programs that address many open questions in particle physics, particularly those concerning the Higgs boson.
These questions are important for understanding the fundamentals of the Standard Model and opening opportunities to discover new physics beyond the Standard Model.
It will also encourage the development of new technologies that have a significant positive impact on society.
Karl Jacobs, Chairman of the Strategic Secretariat, explained: “During the strategy process, we have seen very strong involvement from the European particle physics community and beyond, giving voice to the next main collider, other fields of physics and technology, and topics of importance to our field.
“Based on this input, we had a constructive discussion that ultimately resulted in a clear picture and strong support for CERN to host the Electron-Positron Future Circular Collider (FCC-ee) as its next flagship project.”
A complete list of recommendations can be found here.
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