Impact Through Innovation Partnerships
Companies, institutes and others that establish innovation partnerships with CERN reap direct and indirect benefits from these collaborations. Through CERN’s technical innovations and expertise, partners have seen their ambitions, product portfolios and access to financing grow. In 2024, CERN’s Knowledge Transfer group conducted a pilot survey to help evaluate CERN’s impact through technological innovation, as captured by formal knowledge-transfer partnerships.
The exercise was carried out in two stages. In the first phase, an invitation to fill an online survey was sent to 40 partners, including companies, research institutes and hospitals, who have been accessing CERN technology and know-how in different ways – through collaborative R&D, licence or consultancy agreements. Of the 40 partners, 37 completed the survey and subsequently participated in a follow-up interview. Despite the sample size, the survey and interviews highlighted some interesting results.
Trailblazing innovator
8 out of 10
increased their knowledge and enhanced their technological problem-solving
“Our collaboration not only fosters innovation but also enriches ourselves and our collective efforts to advance solutions.”
“The product would not exist if it hadn’t been for the collaboration with CERN. “
“Suddenly, people say, well, there’s a detector that can do a hundred picosecond time resolutions. Exciting. Give it to me today. “
Recognition and reputation
65%
said that CERN’s collaboration helped them to increase sales and/or obtain additional funding
“CERN’s reputation gives us trust in the market – it’s not just empty marketing words. Without it, we’d be a smaller company trying to convince people.”
“The collaboration with CERN has increased visibility and made our organisation more attractive in the recruitment process.”
“Working with CERN on new products gives credibility to our long-term vision, and also helps us sell our existing products.”
Talent pool
Over 75%
improved the skills of their personnel
“There is real value in the community CERN has helped create. It provides the expertise needed to turn academic breakthroughs into viable products.”
“Working with CERN experts is a huge asset that teaches our engineers a lot.”
“We appreciate the open technical discussions with the collaboration community which continuously pushes what is technically feasible.”
Motivating partners
“Working with CERN made us braver, and more confident in our capabilities.”
“The support by CERN was crucial to get the company off the ground.”
“Without CERN, we would not exist. It’s a very strong, intertwined connection.”
Over 85%
strengthened research activities
80%
strengthened product development
Increasing competitiveness
“Customer satisfaction has improved significantly.”
“The partnership’s shared knowledge and resources have led to more efficient development and production processes.”
“The collaboration with CERN was really supportive. There was an energy to make it a business success, not just a scientific achievement. They were genuinely interested in making the technology a success in industrial applications.”
Over 70%
developed new instrumentation, methodologies, or processes used in product development
Facilitating financing, reducing costs
“Working with CERN gives credibility when talking to investors.”
“The collaboration we have with CERN has been instrumental to us over the past five years, helping us with being awarded a £1.25M investment and increasing our workforce from 10 to 40 people.”
“If we were to do something like this from the ground up without CERN’s support, we would need investment in the five to 10 MEUR range.”
“Through CERN we have access to one of the most advanced photon technologies at a price that is affordable.”
40%
reduced costs of development and production
40%
obtained additional funding