Estonia's government has officially ratified the country's full membership in the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), marking a significant milestone for the Baltic nation. This decision grants Estonian companies, scientists, and teachers complete access to one of Europe's leading research and scientific organizations.
With a population of 1.3 million, Estonia had been an associate member of CERN since February 2021. Following a favorable vote by the current CERN countries in March, Estonia is set to become the 24th member of the prestigious organization, headquartered in a suburb of Geneva on the Switzerland-French border.
Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology, Tiit Riisalo, emphasized the importance of full CERN membership for Estonia. He highlighted that removing the financial ceiling for participating in tenders and employment contracts will be a significant benefit for the country.
Estonia's upcoming full membership in CERN is particularly noteworthy as it will be the first former Soviet republic to achieve this status. CERN, renowned for hosting the world's largest particle physics laboratory, prioritizes promoting cooperation among countries in fundamental nuclear research.
For Estonian entrepreneurs and companies, full CERN membership opens up opportunities for knowledge transfer, especially in the high-tech sector. It also provides broader access to participate in CERN tenders, offering a platform for collaboration and growth.
The formalization of Estonia's membership will occur once the country submits its letter of accession to the director-general of UNESCO, the United Nations agency overseeing educational, scientific, and cultural affairs. Notably, Israel stands as the sole non-European full member of CERN, which was established in 1954.
