Improving crystal detectors for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanners is one of the projects supported by the CERN Medical Applications Budget. (Image: Patrice Loïez)
With its leading position within fundamental research and high-energy physics, CERN employs some of the best engineers and scientists in the world. Although CERN’s focus being on fundamental science, the high-end research and state-of-the-art engineering created by CERN personnel has the potential to benefit many fields in society, which the proud history of innovation at CERN has shown many times before. Now CERN would like to welcome all members of personnel to take part of this great tradition and take your projects from CERN to society.
The CERN Knowledge Transfer Fund is funding projects based on CERN technology made by the CERN community that have the potential to have a positive impact on society. Started in 2011, 41 projects have already been funded with each project receiving 15-220kCHF, with the projects usually running 1-4 years. The projects chosen for funding are selected by the KT Fund Selection Committee, composed of CERN’s department heads, as well as members of the CERN Knowledge Transfer group. Over the years since the start of the fund, the projects funded have spanned many technological fields and applications, from aerospace and superconductivity to cultural heritage. Recent projects funded by the CERN Knowledge Transfer Fund include a collaboration between CERN and the Italian Space Agency working on a compact magnet based on high temperature superconductivity to apply in space applications. Furthermore, a project selected for funding in 2017 have applied Radio-Frequency Quadropoles to be used in art studies. Doing so, CERN technology now helps to evaluate, study and preserve classical works of art for future generations to enjoy.
If your technology has the potential for applications in medical or biomedical technologies, you should first apply for funding from the CERN Medical Applications Budget. Focusing solely on projects with potential medical applications, 25 projects have been funded since 2014, supporting the equivalent of 21 researchers.
All CERN personnel are welcome to submit their applications before 12 November 2018. Read more about how to apply for funding here:
- CERN KT Fund: https://kt.cern/funding/kt-fund/selection-process
- CERN Medical Applications Budget: https://kt.cern/funding/medtech/ma-budget