April 2019

Welcome to the first issue of Accelerating News of 2019.

In this issue, we take a moment to review strategic R&D technological aspects for future colliders and the benefits for industry. After Run 2, work is now in full swing for HL-LHC; we report recent developments from the project’s working packages. We also review the FCC four-volume design report, a global effort that documents the physics opportunities offered by post-LHC frontier circular colliders, and the technological challenges for the efficient and sustainable realisation of this project.

Moreover, CLIC presented a Project Implementation Plan and a number of yellow reports that discuss the machine and detector parameters, along with detailed physics discussion. The two reports will serve as the main input to the next update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics, together with other contributions including non-collider experiments and roadmaps for the development of accelerator and detector technologies.

A few weeks ago, the European Parliament and the European Commission agreed on the fundamental aspects of Horizon Europe, the new framework programme supporting European Science and Innovation. One of the new aspects of this programme is the concept of research “missions”, introduced by Professor Mazzucato, who we interviewed for this issue. The recently established European Innovation Council will also play a key role in bringing academia and industry together, and stimulating fast-growing technology companies. Supporting technology companies was also the goal of the “Particle Colliders – Accelerating Innovation” day in Liverpool, about which you can read below.

Finally, some internal news: after serving as Editor-in-Chief for almost three years, it is time to step down. I would like to give my very special thanks to the editorial team, to our advisory board, and to the readers and contributors for their continuous support. I pass the baton to Daniela Antonio as of June, and I share my very best wishes to her and her team. I trust that, under her guidance, this newsletter will have a bright and growing future.

I hope that you will enjoy our new issue.

Panos Charitos, Editor-in-Chief