Slovak top officials met with CERN Director-General Mark Thomson during his visit to Bratislava on Thursday.
President Pellegrini praised the contributions of Slovak scientists and companies to CERN’s achievements, expressing hope that more young Slovaks would have opportunities to participate in international research and later apply their experience at home. Prime Minister Robert Fico described cooperation with CERN as an important opportunity for Slovak science and industry, stressing the need to translate research into practical applications and economic benefits.
Meanwhile, Slovak Academy of Sciences President Martin Venhart called for expanding cooperation beyond particle physics into biology, genetics and materials engineering, while encouraging greater involvement from Slovak universities and businesses.
Education Minister Tomáš Drucker also confirmed Slovakia’s support for CERN’s proposed Future Circular Collider, a particle accelerator stretching over 90 kilometres, with estimated construction costs of 15 billion Swiss francs. The project could be approved in 2028 and completed around 2040. Thomson’s visit coincided with a meeting of the European Committee for Future Accelerators in Bratislava, assessing Slovakia’s scientific research and international cooperation.
Source: TASR
