Dr. Sheila Gilheany:

CERN works very closely with its members. As it wants its members to do well, it works closely with them to see how it can help. Trade fares were mentioned. For example, something it will do is go to a particular country. I will use Northern Ireland as an example. Invest Northern Ireland brought over a delegation from CERN and a small company based in County Fermanagh, Elite Electronic Systems, received a multi-million pound contract to supply electronic devices for use in the large hadron collider, LHC. That came about through direct contact, by bringing people around and showing them companies. A total of 20 companies in Ireland have had contracts with CERN. We conducted a survey of IDA Ireland backed companies that we felt were in this space. We surveyed the managements of approximately 200 companies and asked whether they would be in favour of Ireland joining CERN. Approximately 80% stated they would because they could see the opportunities. That is the type of multiplier we could see quite quickly in putting people together in a room and showing what they could do. There is such a possibility.