In January, the Continuous Improvement (CI) Team launched the CERNidée portal as one way for the CERN community to share ideas for simplifying processes, improving services and removing obstacles in their daily work. Suggestions arrived at an average rate of more than one per CERN working day during the first half of 2026.  

Continuous improvement is about transforming these ideas into practical improvements across the Organization. All CERNidée submissions are reviewed by the CI Team, in conjunction with the relevant process or service owners, for their potential impact, resource needs and scalability. This helps identify proposals that are practical, implementable and likely to deliver the greatest operational benefit.

Not every suggestion will prove feasible, and the team has a long list to work through.  Currently, 64 ideas are actively being assessed with process and service owners while 73 are progressing through the CI Team’s initial evaluation process.

Every idea helps identify where the CERN community experiences frictions in day-to-day work and the CI Team is highly appreciative of them all.   

Improvements already delivered or being developed by the CI Team in collaboration with process and service owners currently cover the following areas:  

• Simplifying administrative processes (e.g. easier parental leave requests, reviewing and simplifying EDH routings, developing an entirely new software acquisition process proportionate to the request);  
• Improving site services (e.g. improving shuttle schedules and providing additional microwaves, recycling stations and refrigerated storage for breast-feeding parents to enhance the campus experience);  
• Targeted technological improvements (e.g. increasing the functionality of the CERN phonebook, rolling out task-management tools for executive assistants).  

The CI Team is also studying potential opportunities to improve site access processes, reduce manual invoice processing and simplify procedures for small purchases and credit card transactions.  

Continuous improvement supports the “organisational excellence” pillar of CERN’s Strategy and main objectives for 2026–2030. Achieving this ambition calls for a culture of continuous improvement embedded across the Organization, with all personnel actively engaged in identifying opportunities and improving the way we work.

To help build this culture and develop capabilities across the Organization, a Continuous Improvement Network is being established to support departments in applying continuous improvement in their work. Beginner, practitioner and expert training will also soon be offered, giving members of personnel practical tools to identify inefficiencies, solve problems and improve processes, whatever their role in the Organization.

The CI Team looks forward to broadening cross-CERN participation in continuous improvement, as well as continuing to receive your ideas for change via CERNidée.