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Research Organisations

Overview

Switzerland is currently involved in the construction or operation of seven large international research infrastructures covering different research fields.

  1. High energy particle research organisation:
    European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) - Geneva
  2. Astronomy research organisations:
    European Southern Observatory (ESO) - Munich
    Square Kilometer Array Observatory (SKAO) - Manchester
  3. Material research organisations:
    Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) - Grenoble
    European Spallation Source (ESS) - Lund
    European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) - Grenoble
    European X-Ray Free Electron Laser (European XFEL) - Hamburg
  4. Nuclear Fusion research organisation (association 2006-2021)
    International Fusion Experimental Reactor (ITER/FUSION for Energy) - Marseille
A summary of the financial and operational parameters relevant to Swiss companies and institutions in view of commercial activities is shown in the table below. Each organisation has its own rules when considering a fair return of contracts for its Member States. The georeturn coefficient of a Member State is defined as the ratio between that Member State's share of the value of all supply contracts by that Member State's contribution to the overall budget.
Organisation CERN ESO SKA ILL ESS ESRF EU-XFEL ITER - F4E
Research field/Type of facility Fundamental research / Particle physics Fundamental research / Astronomy Fundamental research / Astronomy Material Research / Neutron source Material Research / Neutron source Material Research / Synchrotron light source Material Research / Synchrotron light source Energy Research / Nuclear Fusion
Phase Operation + Upgrades Operation+ Construction  
(2014-2027)		 Construction
phase 1
(2019 -2030)		 Operation + Upgrades Construction
(2013-2025)		 Operation + Upgrades Construction
(2009-2017)		 Construction
(2010-2025)
Yearly Budget (2020)

1’250 MCHF           

 350 MEuros -- 101 MEuros -- 102 MEuros

121 MEuros

 --
Construction Budget -- 1’300 MEuros
(E-ELT)		 2’000 MEuros
 --

1'800 MEuros

 --

16’600 MEuro
Swiss Contribution   3.9 %  4.9%  1% 3.4% 3.5% 4% 1.5% 3%
Purchasing rules internal internal internal internal EU rules + in kind internal German rules + in kind F4E: EU rules IO: internal
Consideration for georeturn strong weak middle middle weak middle weak weak