Malta has taken its first significant step toward securing associate membership with CERN, following an official visit to Switzerland by Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation Clifton Grima. The visit, held in collaboration with Xjenza Malta, marks the beginning of a process intended to bring Malta closer to one of the world’s leading scientific research centres.
The Ministry stated that closer membership with CERN would create new opportunities in international capacity building, scientific exploration, STEAM-based learning, and global research networks. Minister Grima emphasised that Malta is currently one of only two EU countries outside CERN, noting that “the official journey for Malta to become an associate member has now begun.”
He said, “I am at CERN with one goal: to open doors for more research and innovation in Malta,” describing the move as “a strategic investment” that will link Maltese researchers, educators and students with world-class expertise and future technologies.
Malta’s Permanent Representative in Geneva, Randolph Debattista, remarked that “there is great enthusiasm within CERN to see Malta being affiliated,” calling it a historic opportunity for Maltese researchers to lead projects at the world’s largest research centre.
Xjenza Malta CEO Silvio Scerri added that the visit “serves as a foundation for much closer collaboration with CERN.”
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