Prime Minister Jüri Ratas said in Geneva on Wednesday that Estonia wants to become a full member of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).

"The European Organization for Nuclear Research is an important cooperation partner for Estonia both for developing research and innovation, and in entrepreneurship," Ratas was quoted in a government press release on Wednesday.

"In order for our researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs to be able to fully partake in the possibilities offered by CERN, we need to become a full member of the research institution." At present Estonia has a cooperation agreement with CERN.

"Joining CERN, we will get access to the research institution's infrastructure and technology and the intellectual property developed there. Our engineers will be able to gain experience in CERN, and our researchers, in addition to contributing to research, will be able to participate in the management of the institution. Estonian entrepreneurs will have the opportunity of submitting bids for CERN's tenders," Ratas said.

The government's Research and Development Council discussed the opportunities joining CERN would offer already in March 2017. Altogether €1.43 million has been allocated in the 2018-2021 state budget strategy for Estonia's membership in CERN.

Prime Minister Jüri Ratas met with CERN directors and also visited the ATLAS experiment, one of seven particle detector experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

CERN has 22 member states and among other things manages the world's largest particle physics laborary.