Estonia becomes the first Baltic country to join the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) as a full Member State. CERN is welcoming Estonia as its 24th Member State, marking the end of the formal application process that started in 2018 and crowning a period of cooperation that stretches back three decades.

“Estonia is delighted to join CERN as a full Member because CERN accelerates more than tiny particles, it also accelerates international scientific collaboration and our economies. We have seen this potential during our time as Associate Member State and we are keen to begin our full contribution,” said Alar Karis, President of Estonia.

As a CERN Member State, Estonia will have voting rights in the Council, CERN’s highest decision-making authority. Membership will enhance opportunities for Estonian nationals to be recruited by CERN and for Estonian industry and companies to bid for CERN contracts.

30 years of close collaboration 

“On behalf of the CERN Council, I warmly welcome Estonia as the newest Member State of CERN,” said Eliezer Rabinovici, President of the CERN Council. “I am happy to see the community of CERN Member States enlarging, and I am looking forward to the enhanced participation of Estonia in the CERN Council and to its additional scientific contributions to CERN,” added Rabinovici.

“Estonia is delighted to join CERN as a full Member because CERN accelerates more than tiny particles, it also accelerates international scientific collaboration and our economies.”
Alar Karis, President of Estonia

“Estonia and CERN have been collaborating closely for some 30 years, and I am very pleased to welcome Estonia to the ever-growing group of CERN Member States,” said Fabiola Gianotti, CERN Director-General. “I am sure the country and its scientific community will benefit from increased opportunities in fundamental research, technology development, and education and training.”

CERN opens new doors for Estonian entrepreneurs 

According to the Minister of Economy and Industry, Erkki Keldo, full membership in the European Nuclear Research Organization (CERN) will open up new opportunities for cooperation for Estonian entrepreneurs and researchers.

“As a full member of CERN, Estonian entrepreneurs will no longer face financial volume restrictions that prevented them from participating in CERN procurements. It is worth noting that, in addition to the field of high technology, our industry has already cooperated with the organisation, and several companies provide support services, which have, for example, helped to organise conferences,” said Keldo.

“Thus, many other fields also gain advantages from the benefits of CERN.” Keldo sees CERN as a valuable resource for technology-intensive and knowledge-intensive companies and hopes that it will support their development and growth. “Furthermore, Estonia has a vibrant start-up ecosystem, where investments in deep technological solutions are increasing – these are Estonia’s strengths with which we can offer added value as a voting member of CERN,” commented the Minister of Economy and Industry Erkki Keldo.

GOOD TO KNOW
The bilateral relationship formally began in 1996, when Estonia and CERN signed a first cooperation agreement. A second such agreement, which further developed their scientific and technical cooperation, was concluded between the parties in 2010. On 19 June 2020, the parties signed an agreement concerning the granting to Estonia of the status of Associate Member State in the pre-stage to Membership of CERN, which entered into force on 1 February 2021.

Estonia has a broad engagement in the CERN scientific programme

Estonia has been part of the CMS collaboration since 1997. Estonia’s CMS team participates in data analysis and the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG), for which Estonia operates one of the Tier 2 centres, located in Tallinn. Scientists from Estonia also contribute to other experiments, including CLOUD, COMPASS, NA66 and TOTEM, and to studies for future colliders (CLIC and the Future Circular Collider, FCC). Estonian theorists are also very much involved in collaborations with CERN.

Are you interested in trading with Estonia? Enterprise Estonia is providing sourcing services for foreign enterprises. Contact Estonian export advisors or use our free e-consulting service to start trade with Estonia.