The Cockcroft Institute has been awarded almost £10 million in core funding from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) for the period 2025 - 2028, ensuring continued UK leadership in accelerator science and technology.
The Cockcroft Institute is a collaboration between the Universities of Liverpool, Lancaster, Manchester, and Strathclyde, which together with the STFC Accelerator Science and Technology Centre (ASTeC) will use the new funding to advance research across three strategic themes: Scientific frontier facilities such as upgrades to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), novel acceleration techniques, including plasma- and terahertz-driven accelerators, and applications of accelerators addressing global challenges, from cancer therapy to sustainable technologies.
The total award includes £2 million allocated to the University of Liverpool experts based at the Cockcroft Institute. They will lead developments in beam diagnostics, AI and machine learning for accelerator control, medical applications and sustainability.
Professor Carsten P Welsch, Head of our Accelerator Science cluster said: “This investment underlines the UK’s strong commitment to world-class accelerator science. It enables us to continue developing technologies that push the boundaries of fundamental physics and deliver tangible benefits in healthcare, energy and industry.”
After more than two decades, the Cockcroft Institute remains at the heart of UK accelerator innovation, training the next generation of scientists and engineers and fostering international collaborations that drive progress across science and society. You can find out more about the institute via www.cockcroft.ac.uk.