How a swim helped launch one of Europe’s fast-moving quantum start-ups
Random Power, an Italian quantum innovator, is among several surprising deep-tech projects incubated by the EU-funded ATTRACT project
Random Power, an Italian quantum innovator, is among several surprising deep-tech projects incubated by the EU-funded ATTRACT project
ATTRACT Academy: empowering Europe’s next generation of innovators
The ATTRACT Academy is revolutionising how students engage with deep-tech innovation and entrepreneurship. Born from the success of the ‘Young Innovators and Entrepreneurs’ pilot in ATTRACT phase 1, it scaled up its impact during phase 2, expanding its reach to multiple universities across Europe.
What happens when you let a bunch of sociologists loose in a tech lab?
Around the world, governments spend billions of euros a year to get new discoveries out of the lab and into the market. But do they actually know what works and what doesn’t?
Spoiler alert: not really. In many cases, the design of R&D support programmes is just a matter of “well-intentioned guesswork,” says Albert Bravo-Biosca, director of the London- and Barcelona-based Innovation Growth Lab, a non-profit that studies innovation policy.
Master classes: How innovation happens for real?—Register now!
Since its founding in 1954, CERN has been powered by the passion of scientists and engineers determined to push the boundaries of knowledge and technology in the quest to understand the universe. This drive has sparked groundbreaking innovations and continues to shape the future of science and society. But these achievements are more than just milestones. They are the result of relentless curiosity, bold collaboration, and a deep commitment to exploration. At CERN, innovation isn’t just a goal.
TechForward Programme at CERN IdeaSquare
IdeaSquare – the innovation space at CERN, received the 2025 cohort of students from the TechFoward Programme – an advanced training course that connects academic research with market innovation. 6 multidisciplinary teams from UNIBO and associated partner universities from the Emilia-Romagna region, work on innovative technologies developed by researchers from the universities involved, exploring their potential and identifying new strategic applications for the market.
IdeaSquare launches its new educational programme after completing its pilot phase
With the launch of the IdeaSquare Planet programme comes an opportunity to participate in a co-creation workshop involving science fiction and space.
With the launch of the IdeaSquare Planet programme comes an opportunity to participate in a co-creation workshop involving science fiction and space.
Prototype profile: Stirling cryo-cooler
A Stirling machine is a device, that can be used as a heat pump to effectively cool down a given system. In reverse it can be used to generate electricity out of a heat source. It was invented 200 years ago and has not been improved/changed greatly since then, as there was never an economic interest.
The TECH2X project starts!
We are thrilled to announce that the EIT Higher Education Initiative has awarded the TECH2X project funding as part of their Call for Proposals 2024.
1st Next Generation Triggers Hackathon: a week of innovation and collaboration
The 1st NGT Hackathon, held at CERN IdeaSquare from 7–11 April 2025, brought together more than 40 students and researchers from across the Next Generation Triggers (NGT) collaboration and 15 other institutes.
IdeaSquare progress report – 10th anniversary special edition
IdeaSquare passed an amazing milestone in 2024. We celebrated our 10th anniversary, and it was a moment to look back – at our origins, our development and, most crucially, our impact. With this report, we invite you to be part of our project, share in this occasion and discover everything we have done, do and aim to do.