IT IS RARE TO HAVE A LARGE CIRCULAR COLLIDER AS A NEIGHBOUR.

In addition to the development of human capital, the region derives many economic and industrial advantages from CERN’s presence. In many Member States, including in the Pays de Gex and the Geneva region, CERN Business Incubation Centres are hives of technological creativity. Educational programmes benefit thousands of students and hundreds of teachers every year. Mainly taking place at CERN, these programmes also offer classroom activities from the primary level upwards. CERN is also a major regional tourist destination, usually welcoming over 100,000 visitors a year. The advantages of having such a neighbour often outweigh the disadvantages. However, building a tunnel 100 kilometres in circumference is not easy and, like all major civil engineering work, will require the cooperation of the local population. The realisation of the FCC would make it possible to enlarge CERN’s research facilities and to extend geographically the advantages that participating institutes enjoy, throughout the 21st century.