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Catalysing Impact - Superconductivity for Global Challenges
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Europe/Zurich
500/1-001 - Main Auditorium (CERN)
Luca Bottura
(CERN),
Ziad Melhem
Description
Superconducting technologies, historically central to fundamental research, are increasingly relevant for applications in energy, healthcare, transportation, and computing. Recent advances suggest these technologies may contribute meaningfully to addressing critical societal challenges, such as, those outlined in the UN SDG-17 goals.
Organized by CERN, in partnership with the Superconductivity Global Alliance (ScGA), a two-day event on December 1 and 2, 2025, will examine the role of superconductors in enabling discovery science, assess their potential in real-world applications, and consider pathways for accelerating their development. The event will bring together top researchers, technologists, investors, and policymakers to align frontier science with practical needs.
Through keynotes, panels, and roundtables, participants will:
- Review major achievements and current limitations in applied superconductivity.
- Discuss how superconducting technologies may support progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Examine supply chain and workforce issues affecting scale-up.
- Engage with stakeholders from the private and public sectors to explore funding strategies.
- Identify opportunities for collaborative R&D and public–private initiatives.
The event is provisionally structured around the following topics:
- Day 1: Setting the Stage – Presentations and Panel Discussions on technology’s capabilities, impact and opportunities, as well as, funding, advocacy and collaboration perspectives.
- Day 2: Collaborative Strategies – Addressing challenges, risks, and outlining a roadmap and vision for the future.
By convening the superconductivity community across sectors, the event aims to build a shared understanding of challenges and foster coordinated action.
Catalysing Impact - Contacts
Participants
113
View full list
Webcast
There is a live webcast for this event
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Day 1: Registration & Morning Coffee 500/1-201 - Mezzanine
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Day 1: Setting the Scene 500/1-001 - Main AuditoriumConvener: Ziad Melhem
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1
Welcome and Introduction to CERN
Superconductivity has underpinned major scientific achievements, including CERN’s discovery of the Higgs boson. Looking ahead, CERN aims to further the development of superconducting technologies, both for future research infrastructure and for wider applications aligned with global development goals.
Speaker: Mike Lamont (CERN) -
2
Superconductivity Global Alliance
Superconductivity Global Alliance: objectives, challenges, relevance to SDGs, strategic roadmap.
Speaker: Ziad Melhem -
3
Fusion 2040 – Germany’s Fusion Program. Connecting public and private research on the way to a fusion power plantSpeaker: Dr Peter Schroth (German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space)
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1
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10:20
Networking Coffee Break 500/1-001 - Main Auditorium
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Day 1: Superconductivity in Discovery Science 500/1-001 - Main Auditorium
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4
Keynote: Superconductors are ubiquitous in discovery science
An overview of how superconductivity has advanced discovery science, from particle physics, through life and material sciences, to the quantum frontier. Needs and breakthroughs.
Speaker: Dr Frédérick Bordry (Gauss Fusion) -
5
Panel Session: Contributions of superconductors to fundamental research.
Superconductivity is essential for many areas of fundamental science. This session will examine its contributions, the challenges in pushing performance boundaries and future discoveries, and opportunities for cross-sector transfer of knowledge.
Speakers: Dr Ezio Todesco (CERN), Dr Frédérick Bordry (Gauss Fusion), Dr Kathleen Amm (NHMFL), Dr Mathias Noe (KIT), Dr Rolf Lortz (LNCMI)
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4
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Day 1: Superconducting Applications for Society 500/1-001 - Main Auditorium
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6
Keynote: Superconducting science and technology: established and emerging applications
Superconductors have strong societal impact, from saving lives applications like MRI and NMR, generating multi-billion-dollar markets, to magnetically confined fusion, particle therapy, power grids, electrified transport and quantum computing. The next five to ten years are crucial to wider market penetration, especially in the light of the “HTS evolution”.
Speaker: Dr Pierre Vedrine (CEA-IRFU) -
7
Panel Session: Superconductors in industry and society: key challenges and opportunities
The transition of superconducting technologies from the research environment into an industrial and societal context is associated with challenges and opportunities. This session will explore where superconductors are now established technology, what challenges remain for future applications, and what are the most interesting opportunities on a near term and realistic horizon.
Speakers: Dr Liam Brennan (Tokomak Energy), Mr Ludovic Ybanez (Airbus UpNext), Dr Pierre Vedrine (CEA-IRFU), Mr Stefan Roell (Neoscan Solutions), Dr Yann Duclot (Nexans)
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6
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13:00
Lunch Break Restaurant N°1 (Extension)
Restaurant N°1 (Extension)
CERN
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Day 1: Investing Landscape 500/1-001 - Main Auditorium
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8
Keynote: Market dynamics and investment in applied superconductivity projects
Investing in superconducting applications is perceived as a high-risk/long lead-time policy. Recently, however, the perspective of immediate realisation of fusion energy has introduced high dynamics and willingness to take part from multiple actors. A key to this change is value creation beyond the direct revenue, catalysing interest beyond immediate market.
Speaker: Ms Francesca Ferrazza (Eni Spa.) -
9
Panel Session: Perspectives from corporate and institutional investors
While there are promising signals in investment trends, significant barriers remain. This session will explore what drives investment in superconductivity, what is the expected return, and where the greatest uncertainties lie.
Speakers: Mr Andrey Vavilov (Faraday Factory), Ms Francesca Ferrazza (Eni Spa.), Mr Luca Pezzoni (ASG), Ms Milena Roveda (Gauss Fusion)
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8
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Day 1: Technical and Supply Chain Challenges 500/1-001 - Main Auditorium
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10
Keynote: Market dynamics and investment in superconductivity
In order to adequately supply the applications of superconductivity, the supply chain and ecosystem, must solve pressing challenges and develop alongside, its enabling technologies. This session will cover superconductor types, supply chains, and key producers, outlining material developments, growth forecasts, and major bottlenecks, from LTS cryogenic limits to HTS tape challenges, alongside current education gaps and ongoing R&D to mitigate these risks.
Speaker: Dr Matteo Alessandrini (Bruker) -
11
Panel Session: Materials, manufacturing, and workforce development
Despite significant commercial progress, scaling superconducting systems still presents scientific, technical and logistical challenges. This session addresses production capacity, material limitations, and the need for a specialised workforce.
Speakers: Prof. Bernhard Holzapfel (KIT), Dr Daniele Torsello (ESAS), Dr Frank Tecker (CERN), Dr Matteo Alessandrini (Bruker), Dr Pietro Corsaro (ASG)
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10
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16:20
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Day 1: Perspectives on Funding and Collaboration 500/1-001 - Main Auditorium
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12
Keynote: Private Investment: What attracts venture & long-term capital?
While both private and public investment has allowed superconductivity and its applications to substantially grow, more support is needed for the technologies to address pressing societal problems. This session will discuss how public and private investment structures shape superconductivity development, covering national priorities, institutional and venture capital focus areas, and the vehicles driving deep-tech growth.
Speaker: Mr Charles Beigbeder (Audacia) -
13
Panel Session: Perspectives on Funding and Scaling up Investment.
Different types of funding bodies play complementary roles in advancing superconducting technologies. This session will explore practical mechanisms for collaboration, de-risking, and long-term alignment.
Speakers: Mr Charles Beigbeder (Audacia), Dr Fabio Luis Marques dos Santos (ERC), Mr Giuseppe Sangiovanni (Exergon Ventures), Mr John Dutton (World Economic Forum), Dr Pierre Brodard (SERI)
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12
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Day 1: Day Conclusions 500/1-001 - Main Auditorium
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18:30
Cocktail Dinner Restaurant N°1 (Extension)
Restaurant N°1 (Extension)
CERN
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08:45
Morning Coffee Restaurant N°1 (Extension)
Restaurant N°1 (Extension)
CERN
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Day 2: Introduction to Round Table Discussions 500/1-001 - Main Auditorium
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15
Introduction to RoundtablesSpeaker: Amedeo Habsburg
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16
ScGA Grand ChallengesSpeaker: Dr Ziad Melhem (Oxford Quantum Solutions)
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15
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Day 2: Round Table Discussions – Challenges to Solve Various rooms
Various rooms
CERN
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17
Superconductivity, the enabling technology of Discovery Science, holds enormous potential across many fields, offering applications that can deliver real societal impact. Yet, this is not a simple landscape, it requires a high level of expertise, advanced machinery, and specialized testing infrastructure. Because of this, most applications cannot progress quickly in isolation.
Progress depends on collaboration. Research institutes and industrial partners must join forces, bringing together complementary capabilities to create and execute meaningful projects. Equally, joint funding is essential to move technologies up the TRL ladder and ensure they can be deployed in real-world settings.
Many players in this space face the same technical and practical challenges. By combining resources, we can accelerate innovation, and open new opportunities.
The round tables provide a platform to “catalyse this reaction”. They build bridges among key actors, and offer a forum of discussion on how collaborations can take shape. The broad aim is to identify where synergies exist and transform them into concrete actions, from science to society, laying the foundation for cross-sector progress in superconductivity.
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18
Superconductivity, the enabling technology of Discovery Science, holds enormous potential across many fields, offering applications that can deliver real societal impact. Yet, this is not a simple landscape, it requires a high level of expertise, advanced machinery, and specialized testing infrastructure. Because of this, most applications cannot progress quickly in isolation.
Progress depends on collaboration. Research institutes and industrial partners must join forces, bringing together complementary capabilities to create and execute meaningful projects. Equally, joint funding is essential to move technologies up the TRL ladder and ensure they can be deployed in real-world settings.
Many players in this space face the same technical and practical challenges. By combining resources, we can accelerate innovation, and open new opportunities.
The round tables provide a platform to “catalyse this reaction”. They build bridges among key actors, and offer a forum of discussion on how collaborations can take shape. The broad aim is to identify where synergies exist and transform them into concrete actions, from science to society, laying the foundation for cross-sector progress in superconductivity.
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19
Superconductivity, the enabling technology of Discovery Science, holds enormous potential across many fields, offering applications that can deliver real societal impact. Yet, this is not a simple landscape, it requires a high level of expertise, advanced machinery, and specialized testing infrastructure. Because of this, most applications cannot progress quickly in isolation.
Progress depends on collaboration. Research institutes and industrial partners must join forces, bringing together complementary capabilities to create and execute meaningful projects. Equally, joint funding is essential to move technologies up the TRL ladder and ensure they can be deployed in real-world settings.
Many players in this space face the same technical and practical challenges. By combining resources, we can accelerate innovation, and open new opportunities.
The round tables provide a platform to “catalyse this reaction”. They build bridges among key actors, and offer a forum of discussion on how collaborations can take shape. The broad aim is to identify where synergies exist and transform them into concrete actions, from science to society, laying the foundation for cross-sector progress in superconductivity.
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20
Superconductivity, the enabling technology of Discovery Science, holds enormous potential across many fields, offering applications that can deliver real societal impact. Yet, this is not a simple landscape, it requires a high level of expertise, advanced machinery, and specialized testing infrastructure. Because of this, most applications cannot progress quickly in isolation.
Progress depends on collaboration. Research institutes and industrial partners must join forces, bringing together complementary capabilities to create and execute meaningful projects. Equally, joint funding is essential to move technologies up the TRL ladder and ensure they can be deployed in real-world settings.
Many players in this space face the same technical and practical challenges. By combining resources, we can accelerate innovation, and open new opportunities.
The round tables provide a platform to “catalyse this reaction”. They build bridges among key actors, and offer a forum of discussion on how collaborations can take shape. The broad aim is to identify where synergies exist and transform them into concrete actions, from science to society, laying the foundation for cross-sector progress in superconductivity.
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21
Superconductivity, the enabling technology of Discovery Science, holds enormous potential across many fields, offering applications that can deliver real societal impact. Yet, this is not a simple landscape, it requires a high level of expertise, advanced machinery, and specialized testing infrastructure. Because of this, most applications cannot progress quickly in isolation.
Progress depends on collaboration. Research institutes and industrial partners must join forces, bringing together complementary capabilities to create and execute meaningful projects. Equally, joint funding is essential to move technologies up the TRL ladder and ensure they can be deployed in real-world settings.
Many players in this space face the same technical and practical challenges. By combining resources, we can accelerate innovation, and open new opportunities.
The round tables provide a platform to “catalyse this reaction”. They build bridges among key actors, and offer a forum of discussion on how collaborations can take shape. The broad aim is to identify where synergies exist and transform them into concrete actions, from science to society, laying the foundation for cross-sector progress in superconductivity.
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17
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10:20
Coffee Break Restaurant N°1 (Extension)
Restaurant N°1 (Extension)
CERN
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Day 2: Round Table Discussions – Challenges to Solve Various rooms
Various rooms
CERN
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22
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23
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24
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25
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26
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22
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12:20
Lunch Break Restaurant N°1 (Extension)
Restaurant N°1 (Extension)
CERN
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Day 2: Panel on Round Tables 500/1-001 - Main Auditorium
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27
Round Table Panel
- 28
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27
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Day 2: CERN Visits (optional) 500/1-001 - Main Auditorium
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08:45
