Two of the largest organizations in Europe (CERN and ESA) engaged in scientific research signed today an agreement for further cooperation into a themeof common interest.
The Directors-General of the European Center for Nuclear Research and the European Space Agency (ESA) Rolf Hoyer and Jean-Jacques Dorden, respectively, signed the co-operation agreement at a special ceremony in Geneva.
The fact that this year marks 60 years of operation of the European Center for Nuclear Research and half a century of life for ESA, also allowed a historical review with a common frame of reference of the Italian physicist Edoardo Amaldi, who is considered the father of two organizations.
Amaldi, faithful to the vision of the free nature of science and the possibilities of international cooperation, had spearheaded the establishment of CERN in the 50s, while shortly afterwards in collaboration with the French physicist Pierre Auger they convinced European governments of the benefits of space research, a move that led to the establishment of the European Space Research Organization (ESRO), the forerunner of ESA.
His vision was even described by Amaldi in a history letter, a copy of which ESA sent into space with the ATV-003 – Edoardo Amaldi mission, which refueled the International Space Station in March 2012.
During the duration of the ceremony, this letter was presented to CERN officials, with an extensive reference to the ideology that continues to be the driving force in the two institutions.
"ESA and CERN are visionary children like Amalti, which shows that when we share the challenges and unite our forces, Europe is at the cutting edge of progress, innovation and growth," said Jean-Jacques Dorden.
"The two organizations have common roots and a long history of research in their fields. The new agreement will enhance the synergy of our experience, know-how and infrastructure, "said Rolf Hoyer.
The areas where the two organizations are jointly concerned are the development and study of new materials with extreme applications, microsystem technology and applications they may have on small scale sensor systems, as well as the testing of high precision detectors used in experiments on CERN but also in space.
