Brazil inks deal to join European nuclear research association
Brazil may be the first nation in the Americas and the third non-European country to become an associate member of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), one of the world’s biggest research laboratory for particle physics. Comprising 23 country members and ten associates, the organization operates the largest particle accelerator on the globe, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
The agreement was signed Thursday (Mar. 3) by Brazil’s Minister of Science and Technology Marcos Pontes in Geneva, Switzerland, and organization Director Fabiola Gianotti, in a ceremony attended by Brazil’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes. Even though the deal has been inked, the country’s admission still pends ratification by the National Congress before Brazil becomes a member.
The move comes as acknowledgment to the excellence of Brazilian science, the Science Ministry stated. Brazil’s new status will give the nation’s researchers and companies access to the accelerator and other CERN areas, including markets with bids to the tune of $500 million a year.
The partnership had been an aspiration of companies, universities, and the scientific community and should bring a large number of advantages to Brazil. In addition to research and access to the equipment in Geneva, it should make it possible for Brazilian companies to act as suppliers for the organization and join research on new technology and solutions, including the integration of CERN to Sírius, Brazil’s particle accelerator.
On September 24, 2021, the board of the European Organization for Nuclear Research announced Brazil had been accepted as an associate member. Since then, the Brazilian government joined forces with the organization to put together the admission term and formalize the country’s association.
