EuroCirCol · Project

Ultra-High-Field Magnet and Cryogenic Vacuum Designs for Next-Generation Industries

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Imagine the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, the biggest machine ever built — now imagine designing one that's even more powerful, reaching 100 TeV. That's what EuroCirCol worked on: the blueprints for a next-generation circular collider that would need magnets almost twice as strong as anything built today (16 Tesla). Along the way, they had to solve engineering puzzles in superconducting magnets and ultra-cold vacuum systems that push well beyond what industry currently knows how to build.

By the numbers

100 TeV

Target collision energy — roughly 7x the current LHC

16 T

Magnetic field strength targeted for accelerator magnets

Partner institutions in the consortium

Countries represented in the collaboration

10,000+

Global particle physics scientist community served

Total project deliverables produced

EUR 2,999,000

EU contribution to this design study

The business problem

What needed solving

Companies developing next-generation MRI scanners, fusion reactors, or advanced particle therapy systems are hitting the ceiling of current superconducting magnet technology, which typically maxes out around 8-10 Tesla in commercial applications. Pushing to higher fields requires fundamentally new magnet designs, materials, and manufacturing approaches that no single company has developed alone. Similarly, cryogenic vacuum systems for extreme environments lack proven engineering references beyond current operational limits.

The solution

What was built

The project produced a complete manufacturing folder for a 16 Tesla superconducting dipole short model — including all drawings, material specifications, assembly procedures, quality requirements, and cost indications. They also delivered a preliminary beam screen and beam pipe mechanical design with documented materials and manufacturing processes, validated through measurements at a light source. In total, 23 deliverables were produced across magnet design, vacuum systems, beam physics, and governance models.

Audience

Who needs this

Superconducting magnet manufacturers developing next-generation MRI or NMR systemsFusion energy companies designing high-field tokamak or stellarator magnetsParticle therapy equipment manufacturers pushing beam energy limitsCryogenic vacuum system suppliers targeting extreme-performance marketsNational laboratories planning next-generation accelerator facilities

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical Imaging Equipment

enterprise

Target: MRI scanner manufacturers and superconducting magnet suppliers

If you are an MRI equipment manufacturer looking to push imaging resolution beyond current limits — this project developed detailed magnet designs reaching 16 Tesla, far beyond the 3T standard in clinical MRI. Their manufacturing folder includes drawings, material specifications, assembly procedures, and cost indications for high-field superconducting dipole magnets that could inform your next-generation product development.

Fusion Energy and Superconducting Technology

enterprise

Target: Fusion reactor developers and superconducting cable manufacturers

If you are a fusion energy company wrestling with how to build magnets strong enough to confine plasma — this project produced reference designs for 16 Tesla superconducting magnets with full production quality requirements and tolerances. Their work across 17 partner institutions in 9 countries generated engineering knowledge directly transferable to tokamak and stellarator magnet systems.

Cryogenic and Vacuum Engineering

mid-size

Target: Cryogenic system manufacturers and ultra-high vacuum equipment suppliers

If you are a cryogenic or vacuum technology company seeking to expand into extreme-performance markets — this project developed preliminary beam screen and beam pipe designs with documented materials and manufacturing processes for systems that must operate under unprecedented synchrotron light power loads. These designs push cryogenic vacuum technology beyond current commercial capabilities.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to access this technology?

The project received EUR 2,999,000 in EU funding as a Research and Innovation Action. Since this was a conceptual design study, the outputs are engineering designs and specifications rather than purchasable products. Licensing terms would need to be discussed with the coordinator (CERN), which is a public research organization.

Can these magnet designs be manufactured at industrial scale?

The project produced a complete manufacturing folder for the reference design dipole short model, including drawings, material specifications, assembly procedures, and cost indications. However, these are for short test models — scaling to full production would require significant additional engineering and investment.

What is the intellectual property situation?

The project was coordinated by CERN with 17 partners across 9 countries, all from research and academic institutions. IP generated under EU-funded Research and Innovation Actions typically belongs to the participants. With zero industry partners in the consortium, licensing to commercial entities would likely be available.

How far along is this technology?

EuroCirCol was explicitly a conceptual design study that ran from 2015 to 2019. They produced detailed engineering designs and manufacturing specifications for key components like the 16 Tesla dipole magnets and cryogenic beam screens. These are validated designs ready for prototype fabrication, not finished products.

Can this integrate with existing manufacturing processes?

The beam screen deliverable specifically describes materials and manufacturing processes used for test elements at light sources. The magnet manufacturing folder includes production quality requirements with tolerances. Both suggest compatibility with existing precision manufacturing capabilities, though at performance levels beyond current commercial practice.

What support is available for companies interested in this technology?

The project ended in December 2019 and involved 10 universities and 6 research organizations. CERN as coordinator would be the primary contact. The 23 deliverables produced represent a substantial knowledge base. The work continues under the broader Future Circular Collider study.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a purely academic and research consortium — 10 universities and 6 research organizations across 9 countries with zero industry partners and zero SMEs. CERN coordinates from Switzerland, with strong representation from major European physics labs in Germany, France, Italy, the UK, and others, plus participation from Japan. For a business looking to commercialize spin-off technologies, the absence of industry partners means there may be less competition for licensing, but also less commercial validation of the designs. The EUR 2,999,000 budget is modest for this scope, suggesting this leveraged substantial in-kind contributions from the partner institutions.

ORGANISATION EUROPEENNE POUR LA RECHERCHE NUCLEAIRECoordinator · CH
INTER-UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE CORPORATION, HIGH ENERGY ACCELERATOR RESEARCH ORGANISATIONparticipant · JP
THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTERthirdparty · UK
CONSORCIO PARA LA CONSTRUCCION EQUIPAMIENTO Y EXPLOTACION DEL LABORATORIO DE LUZ SINCROTRONparticipant · ES
UNIVERSITE DE GENEVEparticipant · CH
COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESparticipant · FR
UNIVERSITEIT TWENTEparticipant · NL
CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONES ENERGETICAS MEDIOAMBIENTALES Y TECNOLOGICASparticipant · ES
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNEparticipant · CH
TAMPEREEN KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SRparticipant · FI
UNITED KINGDOM RESEARCH AND INNOVATIONparticipant · UK
KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIEparticipant · DE
THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOLparticipant · UK
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT DARMSTADTparticipant · DE
THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORDparticipant · UK
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR
ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI FISICA NUCLEAREparticipant · IT

How to reach the team

CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), Geneva, Switzerland — a public research organization. Contact through official CERN technology transfer office.

Order a report on this consortium See ORGANISATION EUROPEENNE POUR LA RECHERCHE NUCLEAIRE profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

SciTransfer can help you navigate the EuroCirCol results and connect you with the right team at CERN or partner institutions for technology transfer discussions around high-field magnets or cryogenic vacuum systems.

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