A word from the DG: The European strategy for particle physics

The CERN Council took the bold and important decision of unanimously approving a European strategy for particle physics at a dedicated meeting held in Lisbon on 14 July. The consequences for particle physics and for this Laboratory are profound. The full strategy statement is available through the CERN Council web pages at the address http://www.cern.ch/council-strategygroup, but I would like to underline some of the key points here.

In endorsing the strategy, the Council has agreed to act as a council for European particle physics, and not only as a council for CERN. The Council has accepted the considerable responsibility of defining and updating Europe's strategy for particle physics, and of representing Europe on the world stage. The general issues of the strategy recognize Europe's strength and depth in the field, at strong national institutes, at universities and laboratories, and at CERN.

The scientific issues place the LHC firmly on top of the list, both in terms of its initial exploitation and possible future upgrades. The strategy recognises the need for a coordinated programme of R&D for future accelerator facilities, and it reiterates Council's intention to be ready for a new assessment of a future international linear collider to be made around 2010. The strategy goes on to cover coordinated European participation in a global neutrino programme, a coordinated strategy for research at the increasingly exciting interfaces between astro- and particle physics, and between nuclear and particle physics. It recognises the potential for precision studies to be made at lower energies, and it encourages support for developments in theoretical physics.

The European strategy puts science first, but it recognises that particle physics interacts with society on many levels. Therefore, it encourages strong communication and outreach to share the excitement of the field with a broad range of audiences. It proposes the creation of a technology transfer forum, encourages measures to promote knowledge transfer through mobility between industry and research, and encourages close collaboration with industry.

Publication of the strategy brings one process to an end, while starting another. Having unanimously approved the strategy in Lisbon, Council now has to implement it. It is an ambitious strategy, and extra resources will be required. In adopting the strategy, Council has explicitly acknowledged that the future of particle physics deserves investment.

Robert Aymar