Switzerland is currently involved in the construction or operation of seven large international research infrastructures covering different research fields.
A summary of the financial and operational parameters relevant to Swiss companies and institutions in view of commercial activities is shown in the table below. Each organisation has its own rules when considering a fair return of contracts for its Member States. The georeturn coefficient of a Member State is defined as the ratio between that Member State's share of the value of all supply contracts by that Member State's contribution to the overall budget.
| Organisation | CERN | ESO | ILL | ESS | ESRF | XFEL | ITER - F4E |
| Research field/Type of facility | Particle Physics/Accelerator + Detector | Astronomy/Ground based telescopes | Several research fields/Neutron source | Several research fields/Neutron source | Several Research fields/Synchrotron light source | Several Research fields/Synchrotron light source | Nuclear Fusion/ Tokamak |
| Phase | Operation + Upgrades | Operation+ Construction (2014-2024) |
Operation + Upgrades | Construction (2013-2025) |
Operation + Upgrades | Construction (2009-2017) |
Construction (2010-2025) |
| Yearly Budget (2015) |
1’109 MCHF |
164 MEuros | 92 MEuros | -- | 105 MEuros |
118 MEuros (>2018) |
-- |
| Construction Budget | -- | 1’100 MEuros (E-ELT) | -- |
1'830 MEuros |
-- | 1’148 MEuros |
16’600 MEuro |
| Swiss Contribution | 3.9 % | 4.9% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 4% | 1.5% | 3% |
| Purchasing rules | internal | internal | internal | EU rules + in kind | internal | German rules + in kind | F4E: EU rules IO: internal |
| Consideration for georeturn | strong | weak | middle | not applicable | middle | not applicable | weak |
| CERN | |
| Research field | Particle Physics |
| Phase | Operation + Upgrades |
| Yearly Budget 2015 | 1’109 MCHF |
| Construction Budget | -- |
| Swiss Contribution 2015 and pro rata | 42.9 MCHF 3.9 % |
| Purchasing policy | Internal |
| Consideration for fair geographical return | Strong |
| ESO | |
| Research field | Astronomy |
| Phase | Construction (2015-2018) |
| Yearly Budget 2015 | 164 MEuros |
| Construction Budget | 1’1 MEuros (E-ELT) |
| Swiss Contribution 2015 and pro rata | 8.1 MEuros 4.9% |
| Purchasing policy | Internal |
| Consideration for fair geographical return | Middle |
| ILL | |
| Research field | Neutron research |
| Phase | Operation + Upgrades |
| Yearly Budget 2015 | 92 MEuros |
| Construction Budget | -- |
| Swiss Contribution 2015 and pro rata | 3.1 MEuros 3.4% |
| Purchasing policy | Internal |
| Consideration for fair geographical return | Middle |
| ESS | |
| Research field | Neutron research |
| Phase | Construction (2013-2025) |
| Yearly Budget 2015 | -- |
| Construction Budget | 1830 MEuros |
| Swiss Contribution 2015 and pro rata | 64.5 MEuros 3.5% |
| Purchasing policy | EU rules + in kind |
| Consideration for fair geographical return | Middle |
| ESRF | |
| Research field | Synch light research |
| Phase | Operation + Upgrades |
| Yearly Budget 2015 | 105 MEuros |
| Construction Budget | -- |
| Swiss Contribution 2015 and pro rata | 3.6 MEuros 4% |
| Purchasing policy | Internal |
| Consideration for fair geographical return | Middle |
| XFEL | |
| Research field | Synch light research |
| Phase | Construction : (2009-2015) |
| Yearly Budget 2015 | -- |
| Construction Budget | 1’148 MEuros (2005) |
| Swiss Contribution 2015 and pro rata | 17 MEuros 1.5% |
| Purchasing policy | German rules + in kind |
| Consideration for fair geographical return | Middle |
| ITER | |
| Research field | Fusion |
| Phase | Construction (2010-2025) |
| Yearly Budget 2015 | -- |
| Construction Budget | 16’600 MEuros (2010) |
| Swiss Contribution 2015 and pro rata | 200 MEuros |
| Purchasing policy | F4E: EU rules ITER ORG: internal |
| Consideration for fair geographical return | weak |
