Potential Future Research and Development Collaborations

This platform lists CERN’s upcoming potential R&D collaboration agreements with scientific institutes, universities, funding agencies, public bodies, and similar entities from the CERN Member States (hereafter referred to as “institutions”).

How to Proceed:

  • Explore potential opportunities below;
  • Express interest: interested institutions should express their interest by contacting collaboration.agreements@cern.ch while the opportunity remains active on this page;
  • Investment requirement: interested institutions must commit an equivalent amount of human and financial resources to match CERN’s contribution.

Questions:
Contact collaboration.agreements@cern.ch.

Stay updated:
Check this page regularly, as new opportunities are published frequently.

Publication dateType of contractReferenceDescriptionEligibility CriteriaEstimated timelineStatus
17/04/2026R&D Collaboration AgreementRD001Development of internal oxidation techniques for Nb3Sn wire
CERN is currently targeting the development of High Field Magnets using Nb3Sn conductor to produce a dipolar magnetic field of 16 T, operating at 4.2 K with 1200 A/mm2. The wish is to produce wires through an internal oxidation technique to allow this ambitious target to be reached. This collaboration would conclude with the production of at least 3 km of 0.85 mm diameter wire, with approximately 1:1 copper content, with single lengths longer than 600 m. This development shall take less than 4 years.		• R&D in the development Nb3Sn high jc wires, and their characterisation;
• Expertise in internal oxidation techniques for Nb3Sn.		2-4 yearsOpen
17/04/2026R&D Collaboration AgreementRD002Development of a 14 T Nb3Sn / Nb-Ti hybrid dipole magnet based on a common coil design with low pre-load 
As part of its High Field Magnet programme CERN would like to explore a common coil design for a hybrid Nb3Sn/Nb-Ti dipole operating at 14 T with a 50 mm diameter aperture and a length of one metre. This short model should have an appropriate field quality, protection scalable to 15 m, and maximum stresses during all phases well below 200 MPa. This hybrid LTS configuration aims to reduce the mass of Nb3Sn conductor required. The wish is also to explore a mechanical structure with a low preload configuration to minimize the risks associated to conductor degradation. This magnet should be delivered to CERN for tests at 1.9 K and 4.5 K. The development should be completed within 4 years. 		• Experience in the design of high field dipole magnets for accelerators;
• Experience with manufacturing low temperature superconducting magnets for accelerators.		2-4 yearsOpen
17/04/2026R&D Collaboration AgreementRD003Development of a 10 T High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) dipole magnet and high gradient sextupole using metal insulated technology
CERN would like to explore the use of metal insulated technology to develop dipole magnet demonstrators that can reach fields of 14 T. The first step would be to develop a 10 T HTS dipole magnet with a common coil racetrack geometry, an aperture of 20 mm and a length of 150 mm. Based on this result, a proposal shall be made for the design for a 14 T demonstrator with a 50 mm aperture. 		• Experience in HTS metal insulated technology for the development of superconducting devices;
• Experience in modelling the protection, field quality and mechanics related to the design of HTS high field dipole magnets.		TBCOpen