Inclusion Matters: CERN’s new participatory inclusion initiative

Beyond 25 by ’25

Following the successful conclusion of “25 by ’25” at the end of 2025, the Diversity & Inclusion (“D&I”) Programme is now building on this momentum by launching a new D&I initiative for CERN: “Inclusion Matters.”

With “25 by ’25”, CERN committed to strengthening gender and nationality diversity through a first-time aspirational target. “Inclusion Matters.” will continue to strengthen and retain this diversity while fostering a strong sense of belonging across the CERN community.

A call to contribute

Inspired by the Director-General’s vision for CERN as “a beacon of inclusivity in science, where diversity in all its forms can thrive”, the new initiative invites members of the CERN community to propose practical solutions for an even more inclusive workplace by 2030.  

50 actions. 5 years. One shared commitment.

“Inclusion Matters.” contains an Organization-wide goal to deliver 50 visible and tangible inclusion actions over the 2026–2030 mandate, with 10 actions committed to each year, at a rhythm of roughly one per month, collectively referred to as “50 Inc.”. Each action, however small, is intended to make a meaningful difference to at least one community or individual, with the cumulative effect strengthening inclusion across CERN.

What do “inclusion actions” look like?

Inclusion-orientated actions for the first months of 2026 include:

• Increase the duration of maternity and co-parent leave
• Launch a dedicated neurodiversity resource platform
• Expand CERN Stores clothing stock for gender and size inclusivity
• Provide an inclusion awareness forum for newcomers
• Introduce gender diversity in CERN street names

How can I contribute?

Members of the CERN community will be invited to submit 50 Inc. action proposals via an online ticketing form as of mid-May.

In reviewing proposals, the newly established Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Oversight Board (D&I Board) will assess the diversity of actions, of beneficiary communities and of implementing services, as well as considering  feasibility, benchmarking and strategic alignment. The D&I Board will also take into account perspectives from the departmental D&I Officers, diversity networks and D&I contact points within the experiment collaborations. This input will be coordinated, consolidated and presented to the D&I Board by the D&I Programme Advisers.

Progress on actions toward 50 Inc. will be tracked through an online dashboard.

Colleagues are encouraged to gather practical ideas that could further inclusion in everyday working life at CERN.

Click here to contribute your 50 Inc. action proposal: Inclusion Matters. I Diversity & Inclusion Programme