Lithuania seeks full membership in particle physics organization
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In 2026, Lithuania formally requested full membership in CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, after being an associate member since 2018.
CERN, located on the Swiss border, operates a 27-kilometer particle accelerator and is known for discoveries like the Higgs boson. However, a recent study shows CERN’s greatest benefits often appear in hospitals, businesses, and schools far from the accelerator itself.
Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia all aim for full CERN membership, with Estonia achieving it in 2024 and Latvia beginning the process in 2025. While associate members like Lithuania currently receive only 2-3% of CERN contracts, they still experience about 13% of the total added value generated. This demonstrates that full membership offers greater economic benefits. CERN’s impact extends beyond physics.
Its technologies have led to advancements in cancer treatment, including hadron therapy which has helped nearly nine thousand patients, and diagnostic tools like “Medipix” chips used in medical imaging and art authentication. The organization also developed the World Wide Web in 1989. Companies partnering with CERN have seen a 14% increase in revenue and a 13% rise in employment within five years of their first order.
CERN is currently planning the Future Circular Collider, a 91-kilometer ring that could cost 15 billion Swiss francs and create 26,000 jobs worldwide.
