Large-scale scientific facilities, such as those for conducting particle-physics research, are financed by society. A team of economists recently performed a cost–benefit analysis of upgrading the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
They concluded that the socioeconomic and cultural benefits gained from the project – not including potential scientific discoveries – exceed the total pecuniary investment.
In 2025, the LHC will receive a huge boost in its performance. The “high-luminosity” upgrade of the machine will deliver up to ten times more collisions every time protons cross within its gigantic detectors. It will extend the life and potential of the accelerator to 2038 at a total cost of 2.9 billion Swiss francs for materials and personnel.
Source: “Society benefits from investing in particle physics”, CERN
