Israel will join as a member of the CERN organization - the world's largest particle accelerator research in Geneva

The particle accelerator at CERN is the most sophisticated, advanced and expensive scientific infrastructure in the world, and as such it is unique in the field known as "big science"

The government approved yesterday (Sunday) the proposal of the decision-makers brought by the Minister of Education and the Chairman of the Legislative Assembly, Gideon Sa'ar. For the State of Israel to join the CERN organization - the world's largest particle accelerator research in Geneva.
Israel joining CERN as a member gives prestige and international status to Israeli science.

The particle accelerator at CERN is the most sophisticated, advanced and expensive scientific infrastructure in the world, and as such is unique in the field known as "big science". Research at the world's largest particle accelerator works to decipher the structure of matter and investigate many phenomena in nature. With the progress and development of research, his discoveries will have many uses in the study of the universe and the ability to improve the quality of life in it. It is estimated that the development of this research and its discoveries will change the face of society.
Joining the organization makes Israel a member of an exclusive club that provides exposure, prestige and international status.
Minister of Education and Chairman of the MLA, Gideon Sa'ar: "Joining the CERN organization constitutes international recognition of Israel's scientific status. For the Israeli companies in the organization Truma for Israeli Science and Industry - this is an opportunity for full participation and exposure to an organization that produces the most advanced and prestigious scientific infrastructure in the world"

Israel's admission to the CERN organization was confirmed after three years in which the State of Israel has been working to change its position in the organization from an observer to a full member. Israel's status as an observer in the CERN organization was determined in an agreement between the organization's management and the State of Israel in the early 90s. Changing Israel's position as a member of the organization is of great importance to Israeli science, its researchers and industry at the various levels, which will open up significant exposure opportunities for them. The membership will also lead to the participation of its representatives in the administrative institutions of the organization and lead to the removal of the limit on the amount of tenders that the Israeli industry will be able to compete in.

As part of the move to accept Israel as a member of the organization, the CERN Council established a committee to examine the scientific and technological competence of Israel to become a member of CERN. This committee visited Israel in May 2010 and presented the management of the organization with a positive and complimentary report on the scientific achievements of the State of Israel.
Thanks to Israel's scientific achievements (among other things, the development of TGC, which is part of the Atlas detector - in the accelerator research) the Council of the CERN organization ruled and approved Israel's accession as a member of the organization.

The transition process to change Israel's position in the CERN organization from an observer to a full member will take about two years (it is expected that Israel will become a full member of the organization in March 2013) - as is customary in the organization.
At the end of the transition process, Israel will pay full membership fees derived from Israel's relative growth rates vis-a-vis the other member states. The cost of membership fees is currently estimated at 15 million Swiss francs.
At its meeting last Wednesday, the MLA's planning and budgeting committee headed by Prof. Manuel Trachtenberg approved its participation in most of the amount - 52% of the membership fees. Prof. Trachtenberg noted that "Israel's accession to the organization has political importance, as well as scientific importance for researchers in Israel and industry"

In addition to the international scientific prestige conferred by membership in the CERN organization, Israeli industry will be able to participate in various tenders related to the accelerator. It should be noted that until now there was a limit of participation in tenders of up to 600,000 Swiss francs. Now with the removal of the limit and the possibility of full participation in tenders, the Israeli industry will face another challenge. Participating in tenders also includes the possibility of refunding the payment of membership fees to the organization.
Also as part of Israel's membership in the organization, representatives of Israel will be elected to administrative institutions in the CERN organization