Geneva, 16 November 1999. Twenty-two Italian companies are presenting their latest technology at the "Italy at CERN1 " trade fair from 16 to 19 November. The Italian Minister of Research, Ortensio Zecchino, opened the exhibition on Tuesday 16 November together with CERN's Director General, Professor Luciano Maiani.
Geneva, 16 November 1999. Twenty-two Italian companies are presenting their latest technology at the "Italy at CERN1 " trade fair from 16 to 19 November. The Italian Minister of Research, Ortensio Zecchino, opened the exhibition on Tuesday 16 November together with CERN's Director General, Professor Luciano Maiani.
In his address to the public, the Minister said: "I believe that the cooperation of science and industry optimises investment, as it both increases the returns to the Member Countries of CERN and stimulates technological transfer. For these reasons I think that this exhibition is particularly well timed, now that the LHC construction is in full course, as it symbolises the reinforcement of ties between CERN and one of its major sponsors."
The fair, which has been organised by the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade, provides a platform for Italian companies to exhibit their products and technologies related to the field of particle physics and to establish contacts to scientists, engineers and technicians at CERN. The exhibitors offer a wide range of subjects, including cryogenics and vacuum technologies, electric power and power electronics, special and industrial gases, and small and precision machined mechanical components.
Italy has been one of CERN's most influential and vigorous Member States since the laboratory's foundation in 1954. It contributes 13.5 % of CERN's 939 million Swiss Franc budget. With 1033 visiting scientists and 339 staff members Italy is the laboratory's major scientific user. Italian researchers are also heavily involved in the development of the new Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which is scheduled to begin operation in 2005. In the LHC, beams of protons and other particles will be collided at unprecedented energies in a tunnel 27 kilometer in circumference, recreating conditions that existed a fraction of a second after the Big Bang. It is one of the major physics projects for the next century.
Trade fairs such as "Italy at CERN" facilitate collaborations that will enable the research community to carry out experiments at an ever higher technical level, while allowing industry access to CERN's up-to-date knowledge and technology. These joint developments will lead to further technological innovation. One famous example of CERN creativity came about ten years ago, when the needs of scientists all over the world who were trying to access information and research data at the Centre led to the development of the World Wide Web.
List of exhibitors
- Ansaldo Energia Spa
- Bercons Srl
- C.A.E.N. Spa
- C.L.A. Snc
- Consorzio Canavese Export
- Consorzio Petrolnet
- Ernesto Malvestiti Spa
- Europa Metalli Spa
- Eurotech
- Italcoppie Srl
- ITC Irst
- Laben Spa
- MA.RA E.E.I.G.
- Martha Impianti Srl
- Metallurgica Bresciana Spa
- NeuriCam Spa
- O.C.E.M. Spa
- Rial Vacuum Spa
- SAES Getters Spa
- Simic
- Tosti SAS
- Varian Spa
Exibition organizer
I.C.E. Institut Italien pour le Commerce Extérieur
Via Liszt, 21
I-00144 ROMA-EUR
Tel: (39) 0652 599 26691
Isola F/4 16° Piano
I-80143 NAPOLI
Tel: (39) 081 734 71 21
Fax: (39) 081 734 70 26
CERN contact
Claire-Lyse Jullien-Woringer,
Division SPL,
Tel. +41-22-767-3722