Enterprise Ireland Appointed as Ireland’s CERN Industrial Liaison Office

To support Irish Companies in Accessing Global Opportunities

Enterprise Ireland has been appointed as Ireland’s Industrial Liaison Office (ILO) to CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, strengthening Ireland’s engagement with one of the world’s foremost scientific research centres and opening new international opportunities for Irish industry.

In this role, Enterprise Ireland will act as the primary interface between CERN and Irish enterprise, supporting companies to access procurement opportunities, collaborate on advanced research projects, and integrate into CERN’s global supplier network.

The appointment aligns strongly with Enterprise Ireland’s strategy to accelerate the international growth of Irish companies, deepen innovation capability, and connect Irish industry with world-leading research infrastructures. By facilitating participation in CERN’s procurement and innovation ecosystem, Enterprise Ireland will help Irish companies compete for high-value contracts while fostering technological advancement and knowledge transfer into the wider economy.
CERN, headquartered in Geneva, is one of the world’s leading centres for particle physics research, with procurement activity spanning sectors such as advanced manufacturing, ICT, electronics, precision engineering, and materials science.

 Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, said:
 “This appointment is an important milestone in Ireland’s engagement with leading international research organisations, and underscores my ambition to place our businesses at the forefront of innovation. By enabling companies in Ireland to connect and do business with CERN, we are supporting our industry to scale globally, innovate at the highest level and become more competitive. Linking Irish enterprise with cutting-edge technology and expertise at CERN will help build technical expertise in our SMEs and facilitate knowledge and skills transfer, creating new market opportunities and enabling Ireland to compete and lead in advanced technology sectors.”

Dr Imelda Lambkin, Manager – Knowledge Transfer, Enterprise Ireland, said:
 “Enterprise Ireland is delighted to take on the role of CERN Industrial Liaison Office for Ireland. This appointment represents a significant opportunity to support Irish companies with global ambition in accessing highly specialised international contracts, while also strengthening Ireland’s position in global research and innovation networks. It aligns directly with our strategy of driving innovation, competitiveness, and export growth across Irish enterprise.”

Through this role, Enterprise Ireland will: 

• Promote CERN procurement opportunities to Irish companies
• Provide guidance on navigating CERN tendering processes
• Support capability development to meet CERN technical standards
• Facilitate connections between Irish suppliers and CERN procurement teams
• Encourage collaboration between industry and research institutions 

The initiative is expected to enhance Ireland’s visibility within CERN’s supplier ecosystem, increase Irish participation in high-value projects, and generate long-term economic and innovation benefits.

Companies interested in exploring opportunities with CERN are encouraged to engage with Enterprise Ireland for guidance and support.
 

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About Enterprise Ireland
Enterprise Ireland is the Irish government agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in global markets, supporting companies to innovate, scale, and export internationally.
 

About CERN
 CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is a world-leading laboratory for particle physics and operates cutting-edge scientific facilities including the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).