University College Dublin (UCD) welcomes Ireland's progress in joining CERN as an associate member. A delegation of Irish scientists joined Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, at the famed institution in Switzerland this week, including UCD particle physicist Professor Ronan McNulty, and UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact Professor Kate Robson Brown.
Speaking from CERN today, Minister Lawless (pictured centre) said: “Associate Membership of CERN has long been a national goal, and it is a pleasure to work on bringing Ireland into this world-leading centre for scientific research. I am delighted to say that Ireland’s application is at an advanced stage and we are hoping to join in early 2026...It is exciting to think of the Irish students, researchers and entrepreneurs who will have opportunities to contribute to the incredible work carried out there.”
CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research and home to the world’s largest particle physics laboratory, containing the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Ireland’s application to become part of the organisation has now been accepted, allowing the country to become an associate member in 2026. Currently, 24 EU nations are full members and six are associate members.
UCD physicists play a leading role in the Irish community that is already active at CERN, and which is now expected to expand due to the opportunities that membership will bring.
The core mission of CERN is to gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental particles and forces of the universe. However, the work it carries out requires the development of new technologies, providing vast research, innovation and education opportunities in the fields of physics, engineering, electronics, computer science, and many applied areas including healthcare, data, communications and industrial processes.
UCD’s Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact, Professor Kate Robson Brown (pictured left) said: “At a time when we are recognising the real need for investment to boost competitiveness, Ireland’s decision to become associate member of CERN is a welcome step forward. Through Ireland’s membership we can unlock the vast potential benefits of major global scientific initiatives of this scale including enhancing our research and development ecosystem, advancing our scientific and technological knowledge base and bringing benefits to our students, industry, and wider society. Investing in participation gives us a seat at a very valuable table.”
Particle physicist at UCD School of Physics, Professor Ronan McNulty (pictured right) said: “I am delighted by Ireland taking this important step. Joining CERN opens doors for Irish teachers, students and apprentices, to be trained at CERN, and for Irish companies to win CERN contracts. Access to CERN is access to knowledge - having the Irish scientific and engineering community collaborating at the premier scientific laboratory in the world will enrich our society with the latest scientific ideas and technology."
Head of UCD School of Physics, Professor Dominic Zerulla said: “UCD Physics is looking forward to the opportunities presented by Ireland’s associate membership, to continue and deepen its long involvement with science & technology developments at CERN”
As well as contributing to the Nobel-prize winning discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012, UCD scientists have used sensor technology developed for experiments at the LHC for dosimetry and medical imaging at St. Luke's and St. Vincent's hospitals in Dublin. UCD computer scientists are using the vast amount of data produced at the LHC to develop data-management strategies and artificial intelligence algorithms.
Professor Seán Cournane, Director of UCD Centre for Physics in Health and Medicine and Principal Physicist at St. Vincent's University Hospital, said: “UCD Centre for Physics in Health and Medicine (CPHM), along with its hospital partners, has used novel detectors developed at CERN, applying them to the characterisation of radiation therapy beams used for cancer treatment and developing new nuclear medicine imaging cameras. With Ireland now joining CERN, this marks an exciting opportunity for further innovation and collaborative research towards improved patient care.”
Peter Stringer, UCD Alumnus and Head of Core Technology Development at Supernode, which was headquartered at UCD as a start-up, received training at CERN and was among a delegation that welcomed the organisation to the university campus last year.
He said: “This is fantastic news. SuperNode's collaboration with CERN has enabled us to develop our systems and understanding at an incredible pace. Ireland's membership will give other Irish companies access to CERN's capabilities and knowledge, as well as opportunities to participate in and contribute to its projects. This membership will also enable Irish students and graduates to gain valuable knowledge and experience at CERN which they can bring back to Ireland helping our knowledge base to grow."
Very much aligned with this progressive step by the Irish Government, UCD recently unveiled its next five-year strategy which sets a course for ‘research with ambition,’ with specific goals including the establishment of a major new institute for AI and digital technologies, and a talent recruitment drive for early-stage faculty under the university’s Ad Astra programme.