CERN’s new head says $19.5B is needed for a 91-km collider, with a 2028 decision pending.

CERN's new director-general, Mark Thomson, expressed confidence in securing $19.5 billion for the Future Circular Collider (FCC), a 91-kilometre particle accelerator planned for the late 2040s to study dark matter and dark energy. About half the funding would come from CERN’s budget, with the rest sought through international contributions and a $1 billion private donation with no return. The FCC, set to succeed the LHC—which is upgrading to become the High Luminosity LHC—faces a 2028 decision by CERN’s council.