Trade mission to C.E.R.N.

GENEVA 1-3 October 2002

CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCOTTISH COMPANIES

CERN is the largest particle physics laboratory in Europe, with an annual budget in excess of £350 million.

Capitalising on the interest generated, Scottish Development International and Renfrewshire Inverclyde Exports are now organising a trade mission to CERN for appropriate companies to exploit the specific opportunities highlighted. In collaboration with PPARC (the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council who provide practical guidance about dealing with CERN) and the British Consulate - Geneva , the mission has been organised such that Scottish company profiles can be matched with exisiting and potential future opportunities within CERN to establish interest level.

CERN spends around 40% of its budget on contracts with industry, the majority of which are purchases made in the Member States of the European Union. In principle, all this work is open to UK companies and the UK wins, on average, around £12m per annum in contracts. CERN buys not just scientific and high technology equipment, but a wide range of products and services which include the following:

Electronics / Civil Engineering and Buildings / Service Contracts / Electrical Engineering / Buildings and Facilities Maintenance Contracts / Mechanical Structures – supplies / Vacuum Technology / Low Temperature Technology / Equipment Contracts / Computer Systems / Communications Systems

Companies interested in participating in the trade mission should in the first instance study the information at www.pparc.ac.uk/In/Ct/FclContracts.asp. which outlines the main requirements that CERN has. However, it is important to remember that almost half the value of CERN purchasing goes out in orders below the £20K tender limit . This makes it accessible to many different sorts and sizes of businesses who are competent in their field of activity.

contact Michael McGuinness on 0141-585-6313 for further details.