MECHANICS · IAPP MeChanICs - Marie Curie linking Industry to CERN

The aim of Marie Curie linking Industry to CERN (MeChanICs) is to enhance knowledge exchange in the field of precision manufacturing. The project gathers five specialised precision manufacturer companies of excellence, of which one is an SME, to enhance their existing research and technology development (RTD) efforts with the University of Helsinki (UH) and CERN. The mechanisms used for the transfer of knowledge within MeChanICs are two-way intersectoral secondments and dissemination workshops. MeChanICs will be established within the UH’s existing research cooperation with the CERN-led Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) technology development, one of the highlighted topics of the European Strategy for Particle Physics. CLIC is likely to represent the forefront of Particle Physics in the post-Large Hadron Collider (LHC) era and its development boosts the competitiveness of its suppliers by pushing the used technologies to their limits. Close co-operation with industry in the next years is vital to devise an industrialisation scheme enabling the mass manufacturing of the required components at an affordable price and on time for a decision on the future direction of Particle Physics based on the LHC results. From the perspective of European industry, CLIC represents major technological challenges, possibilities for long-term RTD collaboration as well as significant future commercial opportunities, especially as CLIC technologies already show potential beyond Particle Physics applications, notably for X-ray free electron lasers and hadron therapy. The project strongly supports the on-going international RTD projects in machining and in precision assembly. MeChanICs widens the precision manufacturing value chain by also comprising RTD in brazing, materials and design. In addition, MeChanICs contributes to the objectives of the MoU between the EC and CERN on further developing the European Research Area, particularly concerning researcher training and mobility.