To address the most pressing open questions in fundamental physics, particularly those sharpened by the discovery of the Higgs boson, no scientific instrument conceived today matches the potential of a next-generation particle collider. Recognizing this, the 2020 update to the European Strategy for Particle Physics identified an electron-positron collider (Higgs factory) as the highest-priority facility after the LHC, followed by a high-energy hadron collider in the same 100 km tunnel.
The FCC Feasibility Study, supported by the H2020 FCC Innovation Study (FCCIS), has been instrumental in evaluating the technical, financial, and environmental feasibility of the project. FCCIS has played a critical role in preparing the feasibility report due in 2025/2026, ahead of the next update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics. By delivering a conceptual design and an implementation plan, FCCIS has provided the foundation for a global research infrastructure, designed around a 90-100 km tunnel and multiple surface sites.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS OF FCCIS
The FCCIS Design Study has not only ensured the feasibility of the FCC project but also established a robust network of European R&D institutions, industries, and funding agencies, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across physics, engineering, and policy-making. It has also:
• Strengthened international coordination, including synergy-building workshops with global physics projects like the Electron-Ion Collider (USA).
• Advanced regulatory frameworks, working with French and Swiss authorities, leading to policy adaptations such as the update of Swiss law on Research and Innovation, which secured federal-level strategic recognition for CERN projects.
• Developed cutting-edge accelerator technology, including “xsuite” software, now deployed at PETRA III (DESY, Germany) for medical research. Moreover, developed new technologies that will allow the more efficient and sustainable operation of the proposed RI. These advancements will harmonize European accelerator operations and improve efficiency.
• Enhanced socio-economic impact analysis methodologies, now integrated into the RI-PATHS H2020 "RI Impact Assessment Toolkit", ensuring data-driven decision-making for future research infrastructures.
• Promoted sustainability strategies, particularly in the management of excavated materials, establishing best practices for large-scale projects with environmental and economic benefits for the European industry.
While the FCC is a long-term project, its timescales are tight—a post-LHC collider must be operational by the 2040s, necessitating construction in the early 2030s. The FCCIS project has helped accelerate preparations, ensuring a smooth transition from the High-Luminosity LHC while reinforcing Europe’s scientific leadership, technological innovation, and industrial competitiveness.
By merging fundamental research with applied technologies, FCCIS has created lasting impact beyond physics, shaping policy, technology, and sustainability at a European and global level. Its methodologies are already influencing other large-scale projects while also opening the dialogue for joint activities with other European Big Science organizations.
Through FCCIS, Europe has taken a decisive step toward realizing the next-generation collider, ensuring that global scientific progress remains anchored in European innovation.
