n.4 | July 2025
The future of particle
physics in Europe
“To develop a visionary and concrete plan that greatly advances human knowledge in fundamental physics through the realisation of the next flagship project at CERN”. This is the goal of the European Strategy for Particle Physics (ESPP), whose update process began in March 2024 and will conclude in 2026, with the final approval of the project by the CERN Council by 2028. European particle physics – and in particular CERN, in its role as a world-leading centre of excellence – needs, in fact, a clear strategy to outline its long-term future and to identify concrete scientific and technological objectives. To achieve this, scientists from around the world take part in a rigorous, open, and inclusive scientific process that, every 5–7 years, allows the entire research community to contribute, make their case, and discuss the priorities and technological opportunities. The latest stage of this process took place in Italy, at Venice Lido, from June 23 to 27: the Open Symposium, a valuable moment of exchange that brought together more than 600 participants, organised by the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) in collaboration with CERN. On that occasion, we met Karl Jakobs, Secretary of the ongoing update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics, to find out where we stand and what direction we are heading in.
Karl Jakobs is Professor of Physics at the University of Freiburg in Germany since 2003. His main activities of research are the study of the Higgs particle and the search for extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. He participated in leading roles in experiments at CERN and at the US laboratory Fermilab/Chicago. From 2017 to 2021 he was the Spokesperson of the ATLAS Experiment. From 2021 to 2023 he was the Chairperson of the European Committee for Future Accelerators (ECFA), and in 2024 he has been appointed as Secretary to organise the new update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics.
Karl Jakobs
Interview with Karl Jakobs, Secretary of the update process of the European Strategy for Particle Physics
What is the European Strategy for Particle Physics?
The European Strategy for Particle Physics is a cornerstone in the decision-making process on the future of particle physics in Europe, particularly related to the accelerators at CERN. CERN is the European centre for particle physics, with a large scientific community comprising 25 member states. Since it is this community that will use the next large collider, it is essential to involve it in the decision process on which machine to build. A multi-stage strategy process has been set up, with the contribution of specific groups. The main one is the European Strategy Group, consisting of about 70 representatives from all the member States and the national laboratories, and charged with drafting the recommendations to be submitted to the CERN Council, which will make the final decision. To arrive at these recommendations, the particle physics community in Europe has been directly involved through a call for inputs. We have received 266 submissions in total, a lot of feedback, which were then condensed into a series of reports by special working groups for the Open Symposium, that was recently held in Venice Lido. At that meeting, extensive discussion sessions took place to give everyone a chance to contribute.
What was the role of the Symposium in defining the Strategy?
The Symposium is a fundamental moment of debate, an assembly open to the European – and beyond – particle physics community, allowing everybody to give their input, express their feedback and participate in the discussions on the most important topics regarding the future of the field. Clearly, physics is at the centre of the debate: accelerators need to be built to address the large open fundamental questions.
Read the interview Read the interview- July 10-16-24
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