PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUT

Their core work

PSI is Switzerland's largest multi-disciplinary research centre, operating world-class large-scale facilities including a synchrotron light source (SLS), a free electron laser (SwissFEL), and a spallation neutron source (SINQ). They provide beam time and advanced instrumentation to researchers across Europe, while conducting their own programs in particle physics, nuclear energy safety, atmospheric science, and materials research. Their facilities enable experiments that cannot be done elsewhere — from imaging magnetic nanostructures to probing reactor material degradation — making them a critical infrastructure partner for hundreds of European research groups.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2015–2018), PSI's portfolio centered on atmospheric science (climate change, aerosol formation), magnetic materials research (skyrmions, chiral magnetism), and foundational infrastructure projects for neutron and photon sources. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted markedly toward nuclear safety benchmarking, particle physics (charged lepton flavour violation, neutrino oscillations), open science infrastructure (EOSC, FAIR data), and energy storage/sustainability. This evolution shows PSI consolidating around its unique facility-based capabilities while expanding into data-driven research and clean energy applications.

PSI is moving toward open research data infrastructure and clean energy technologies while deepening its particle physics program — positioning itself as both a facility provider and a data-age research hub.

How they like to work

PSI overwhelmingly participates rather than leads: 80 of 94 projects as participant versus 11 as coordinator. This reflects their role as an infrastructure provider that brings facilities and specialized instrumentation to consortia rather than driving project agendas. With 837 unique partners across 49 countries, they are a high-connectivity hub — working with an exceptionally wide network rather than repeatedly partnering with the same groups, which makes them an accessible and well-connected partner for new collaborations.

PSI collaborates with 837 unique partners across 49 countries, making them one of the most broadly connected research centres in H2020. Their network spans virtually all of Europe plus international partners, with particularly strong ties to major neutron/photon facilities and nuclear research organizations.

What sets them apart

PSI operates multiple large-scale user facilities (synchrotron, free electron laser, neutron source, muon source) under one roof — a combination matched by very few institutions worldwide. This means a single partner gives consortia access to complementary experimental techniques spanning materials characterization, structural biology, particle physics, and energy research. Their Swiss base also brings non-EU funding and a reputation for precision engineering and operational reliability to any consortium.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PSI-FELLOW-II-3i
  PSI's largest coordinated project (EUR 4.2M) — a COFUND postdoctoral fellowship program demonstrating their role as a training hub for international researchers.
• HyperQC
  EUR 2.3M ERC-level project coordinated by PSI on quantum criticality in magnetism, showcasing their fundamental physics leadership.
• CALIPSOplus
  EUR 1.3M contribution to a pan-European light source access program, exemplifying PSI's core mission of providing research infrastructure to the continent.