CERN alumni: a powerful engine for knowledge transfer

We often think knowledge transfer is limited to when specific technologies are moved from CERN into industry but there are other methods to consider. People are often the most vital tool in the transfer of CERN know-how. The CERN Alumni Network plays a real role in supporting knowledge transfer by helping to share expertise, build connections, and amplify the impact of CERN-related know-how into wider society.

“The CERN Alumni Network shows the contribution CERN has to the economy and society through its Alumni”. – source 2025 Global CERN Alumni Survey

The Network, created in 2017 connects just under 11,000 current and former CERN members of personnel across countries, sectors, and career stages. This global network means that the technical expertise developed at CERN continues to circulate long after people leave the Organization. Not only are employees highly skilled in their field, but they have also been exposed to a unique working environment at CERN, are used to problem solving, using cutting edge tools and working within international collaborations. This results in a valuable skillset which enables CERN Alumni to transition from CERN into many fields such as industry, academia, finance, or entrepreneurship. In fact, 40% of all startups enrolled in the CERN Venture Connect programme during 2025 have CERN alumni founders who are leveraging their knowledge of CERN technologies originally developed for particle physics research and building ventures tackling real-world problems.

The CERN Alumni programme organises career events, mentoring, and networking opportunities including events like the “Moving out of Academia” series which allows seasoned alumni to share insights on applying the skills learned at CERN to potential future roles outside of fundamental research. Other events such “News from the Lab” updates encourage alumni to remain engaged with current scientific and technological developments helping spread CERN-originated knowledge even further. Alumni founders or employees take part in “Company Showrooms” and are keen to recruit fellow alumni as they appreciate the knowledge and experience their time at CERN will have given them.

“CERN is truly unlike anywhere else in the world. It represents an unprecedented collaborative environment and working within this community profoundly shaped my mindset: I learned to solve problems, always believing that challenges can be overcome when we combine efforts and support one another. That collaborative spirit is something I carry with me into every professional environment today. In my current role, one of my first priorities was to strengthen the data analysis infrastructure to facilitate collaboration, transparency, and faster iteration among team members”. Merve Şahinsoy Karacasu, CERN alumna, Data Physicist at Marvel Fusion.

There are 23 regional groups allowing alumni to network locally and remain connected with each other and the laboratory and diverse interest groups led by former summer students or those with specific interests in, for example, sustainability or space.

The success of the network has led to much outside interest, even winning a prestigious award, and the CERN Alumni relations team is happy to share the specialised knowledge and expertise acquired while creating and growing the alumni community.

“CERN was among the first research organisations to have set up an alumni programme. Its success attracts peer institutions, including the French National Centre for Scientific Research (Centre national de la recherche scientifique), which sought strategic consultation to inform its own alumni initiative”, explains Rachel Bray, Head of Global Outreach & Alumni Relations.

Many alumni become ambassadors for CERN’s mission and expertise within other organisations, from startups to multinational corporations. Their career trajectories are truly diverse and by raising awareness of how CERN technologies and working methods can solve real-world problems, alumni help catalyse partnerships, collaborations, and technology adoption outside CERN.

You can watch many of the recordings of the events mentioned on the CERN alumni YouTube channel .

The CERN Alumni contacts are Rachel Bray, Elina Riznic and Simona Kriva.