Swiss Input to the European Strategy for Particle Physics 2026 Update

The Swiss particle physics community (CHIPP)—uniting researchers across all career stages from the University of Basel, University of Bern, ETH Zurich, EPFL, University of Geneva, the Paul Scherrer Institute, and the University of Zurich, as well as Swiss nationals at CERN—has submitted its national input to the 2026 Update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics. This process will shape the long-term vision for Europe’s leadership in particle physics and determine the next major research infrastructure at CERN.

After two years of extensive discussions, workshops, and strategic planning, including the release of the CHIPP Community Roadmap 2024 (link), the Swiss community has reached a strong consensus: the most compelling and transformative path forward is the Future Circular Collider (FCC) program.

The FCC is envisioned as a multi-decade scientific facility that begins with an electron-positron collider (FCC-ee), delivering the world’s most precise dataset for studying the Higgs boson, electroweak interactions, and flavor physics. In a later phase, the facility evolves into a proton-proton collider (FCC-hh), reaching energies an order of magnitude beyond the current LHC—opening new frontiers in the search for unknown particles and forces.

CHIPP’s support for the FCC reflects the country’s scientific strengths, strategic priorities, and innovation opportunities in areas where Swiss research institutions have world-renowned expertise:

· Accelerator and magnet technology

· Detector design and precision instrumentation

· Theoretical calculations and simulations

· High-performance computing and artificial intelligence

· Data analysis and discovery science

Equally important to the Swiss scientific community is a strong commitment to environmental sustainability. As part of CERN’s vision, the FCC is being designed with an emphasis on energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and minimized ecological impact—values that align closely with Swiss environmental and technological leadership.

In parallel, the FCC presents a unique opportunity to foster international research cooperation at new levels, reinforcing Switzerland’s investment in collaborative science at a global scale.

In December 2025, Switzerland will host the European Strategy Group’s Drafting Session at Monte Verità. At this pivotal meeting, an international panel of scientific leaders will finalize the official proposal for the future of European particle physics—including the recommended flagship project at CERN—which will then be submitted to the CERN Council for consideration.

The Swiss submission reaffirms the nation's role as a committed co-host of CERN and a proactive force in shaping Europe’s scientific future. The FCC represents a once-in-a-century opportunity to explore the deepest questions of our universe—while empowering and training the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators who will lead that journey.

We are excited to bring the public along with us in this endeavor. To stay informed and share in the excitement of this historic process, follow updates on the CHIPP website (www.chipp.ch) and subscribe to CHIPP on social media platforms (@CHIPP_news on X, BlueSky and Instagram) for the latest news on the European Strategy for Particle Physics 2026 Update.