The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) is a leading international organization for cutting-edge research at the forefront of particle physics, hosting the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s highest-energy hadron collider. The four large detector experiments (ALICE, ATLAS, CMS, and LHCb) leverage the most advanced detection technologies to capture and study microscopic phenomena, providing a premier platform for the development of advanced particle detection technologies. CERN, which brings together more than 12,000 researchers from over 70 countries, has become a prime example of international cooperation. Since 1997, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) has been supporting Chinese researchers to participate in these significant LHC experiments. In 2024, NSFC sets up the “NSFC-CERN Large Scientific Infrastructure International Cooperation Research Program”, following the organizing mechanism of the NSFC Major Research Plan program. The program, with a special focus on detector upgrades and physical research, provides different levels of funding through cultivation projects, key projects, integration projects, etc. This program aims to provide sustainable support to Chinese teams to participate in the international cooperative research at CERN, and contribute to the scientific innovation, technological development, talent cultivation, and international cooperation in the fields of particle physics and nuclear physics.
I. Scientific Objectives
This program is dedicated to developing advanced particle detection technologies for the four large detector experiments (ALICE, ATLAS, CMS, and LHCb) on the CERN LHC and promoting cutting-edge research in particle and nuclear physics. The goals include: to precisely measure the properties of the Higgs boson to understand the origin of mass of elementary particles; to accurately test the Standard Model of particle physics, search for new physics beyond the Standard Model, and understand the asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the universe; and to gain a deeper understanding of the non-perturbative aspects of quantum chromodynamics, the phase transitions, and new states of strongly interacting matter.
II. Core Scientific Issues
1. Precise measurement of the Standard Model and the properties of the Higgs boson.
2. New physics beyond the Standard Model and the mechanisms of charge-parity (CP) symmetry breaking.
3. The essence of strong interactions and the internal structure of hadrons.
4. Properties of quark-gluon plasma under extreme conditions of high temperature, high density, and low chemical potential.
5. Advanced particle detectors and key detection technologies.
III. Project Settings and Funding Areas for 2024
1. Detector Upgrade Projects
(1) Key projects for the CMS experiment detector upgrade.
(2) Integration projects for the CMS experiment detector upgrade.
(3) Key projects for the LHCb experiment detector upgrade.
(4) Key projects for the ALICE experiment detector upgrade.
(5) Integration projects for the ATLAS experiment detector upgrade.
2. Physical Research Projects
Cultivation projects for conducting cutting-edge physics research related to final states involving muons and the study of muon spectrometer performance in the ATLAS Experiment at LHC Run-3.
IV. Basic Principles for Project Selection
To ensure the achievement of the overall objectives, this program encourages:
1. Technical research and development of key detectors closely related to the overall objectives.
2. Physical research closely related to the overall objectives.
3. Research with international impact that aligns with the development of international cooperation.
4. Original and innovative research ideas and exploratory studies with unique features.
V. Funding Plan for 2024
1. About one cultivation project is to be funded. NSFC budget is up to 600,000 RMB per project (direct costs) for a duration of three years, from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027.
2. About five key projects are to be funded. NSFC budget is up to three million RMB per project (direct costs) for a duration of four years, from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2028.
3. About three integration projects are to be funded. NSFC budget is up to 7.5 million RMB per project (direct costs) for a duration of four years, from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2028.
VI. Contact Information
Wu Congcong, Li Wencong
Division III, Department of International Programs
Tel: 010-62325143, 62327014
E-mail: wucc@nsfc.gov.cn,
liwc@nsfc.gov.cn
NSFC Grants System technical support
Tel: +86-10-6231 7474
For more detailed application requirements and notices, such as funding areas, eligibility criteria, limits of parallel application, and annexes, please visit https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/english/site_1/international/D6/2024/09-02/374.html.
National Natural Science Foundation of China