Mint Tek recently attended the CERN National Stakeholder Event with DFHERIS (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science), highlighting Ireland’s growing role in one of the world’s most advanced scientific and engineering ecosystems. The event took place on 17 June at the DFHERIS campus on St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2.
A key announcement from the event is that Ireland is now an Associate Member State of CERN, creating significant new opportunities for Irish companies to engage in high-value engineering, manufacturing, and technology projects.
CERN in Ireland: A Growing Industry Ecosystem
While CERN is best known for fundamental research in particle physics, the reality is that it operates as a global industrial and engineering platform. CERN’s large-scale programmes rely on collaboration with industry to deliver:
- Advanced electronics and radiation-hardened semiconductor solutions,
- PCB design and thermal management
- Cryogenic and cooling technologies
- High-performance computing and data infrastructure
This creates real opportunities for Irish manufacturers, engineering firms, and electronics specialists to participate in major international projects.
Irish Universities in the CERN Ecosystem
Ireland’s engagement is supported by a strong academic network, with Irish universities playing a key role in the CERN Ireland ecosystem.
Institutions such as UCD, MTU and TU Dublin are actively involved in research collaboration, talent development, and knowledge transfer helping to connect industry with cutting-edge innovation and future skills.
Speakers at the CERN Stakeholder Event
The event brought together leading voices from across CERN and Ireland’s research and industry landscape, including:
- Martin Gastal, CERN
- Michael Benedikt, CERN
- Ronan McNulty, University College Dublin (UCD)
- Dr Niall Smith, Munster Technological University (MTU)
- Peter Stringer, SuperNode
- Patricia Moore, Irish Space Association
Their contributions reinforced the importance of strengthening links between international research programmes and Irish industry capability.
Future Opportunities: From CERN to Industry
With long-term initiatives such as the Future Circular Collider (FCC) under discussion, there is increasing focus on involving industry early in the development lifecycle.
For Irish businesses, this represents:
- Access to large-scale international engineering projects
- Opportunities in specialised manufacturing and advanced electronics
- Collaboration with world-leading research organisations
Mint Tek Perspective: Supporting Industry Engagement
At Mint Tek, we recognise the strong alignment between CERN’s engineering challenges and the capabilities within the Irish electronics and manufacturing sector.
As Ireland strengthens its position within CERN, Mint Tek looks forward to supporting customers in identifying and delivering on these opportunities, particularly in complex electronics, PCB design, and manufacturing solutions.
Images from the event
A selection of images from the CERN National Stakeholder Event hosted by DFHERIS in Dublin.
