Inside CERN’s Chip Revolution: From Particle Physics to Everyday Tech

Erik Heijne gives the opening presentation of the Symposium, setting the Timepix and Medipix developments in the more general context of radiation detectors. (Credit: CERN)

From the first colour X-rays to detecting forgeries in art, semiconductor chips originally designed for particle physics experiments are continuing to transform society in remarkable ways. This progress is driven by CERN’s Medipix collaborations, which have led to breakthroughs across diverse fields such as medical imaging, radiotherapy, space dosimetry, and material analysis.

Developed in partnership with more than 30 external research institutes, Medipix chips stand as a leading example of how technology created for high-energy physics can evolve into innovations with global societal benefits.

Origins of Medipix Technology

The story of Medipix began in the early 1990s within CERN’s microelectronics group, where researchers sought to interpret the complex particle interactions expected at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Out of this pioneering effort emerged the Medipix and Timepix projects—now recognized as two of CERN’s most successful knowledge transfer initiatives, inspiring a wide range of commercial and scientific applications.

To celebrate two decades of innovation, CERN hosted a Medipix3 collaboration symposium on 23 September, showcasing ongoing developments and future opportunities for the technology.

Medipix4: The Next Generation

“Since the launch of the first informal Medipix collaboration in the mid-1990s, both our community and our chip capabilities have expanded enormously,” explained Michael Campbell, Medipix spokesperson. “With the latest version, Medipix4, offering a higher count rate, larger detection area, and broader dynamic range, collaborators now have access to the most advanced high-resolution photon-counting chip in the world.”

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How Medipix Chips Work

Much like the silicon pixel arrays found in smartphone cameras, Medipix chips detect electrical charges generated by incident light or particles. However, unlike consumer-grade sensors, they capture individual charged particles with exceptional precision, resulting in minimal image blurring—a crucial feature for tracking the intricate debris produced in particle collisions.

Over time, Medipix technology has evolved from simple photon counting to higher energy resolution and faster count rates. The integration of on-pixel timing information led to the Timepix series, opening the door to new scientific and industrial applications while remaining central to ongoing particle physics experiments.

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Transforming Research into Real-World Applications

One of the earliest and most enduring partners of the Medipix collaboration is Malvern Panalytical, which uses Medipix2 and Medipix3 chips for material analysis in both research and industry. Reflecting on 25 years of collaboration, Roelof de Vries from Malvern Panalytical noted:

“The key to turning research into a commercial product is patience, constructive engagement, and collaboration with the Medipix team to continuously improve the technology.”

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Medical Breakthroughs: The Colour X-Ray Revolution

Among the most celebrated applications of Medipix technology is the 3D colour X-ray scanner developed by MARS Bioimaging Ltd. This innovation enables doctors to provide more accurate and accessible medical diagnoses. In 2025, the scanner entered clinical trials at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. As Anthony Butler of MARS Bioimaging explained,

“Our goal is not just to deliver better images but to make healthcare more accessible and affordable by bringing imaging technology out of hospitals and into the community.”

Expanding Horizons: From Space to Classrooms

Other cutting-edge Timepix applications showcased at the symposium included:

• Monitoring radiation exposure during space travel

• Tracking radiotherapy progress in cancer treatments

• Advancing quantum imaging technologies

  
  

Beyond professional use, Timepix is now inspiring the next generation of scientists. Becky Parker, the first teacher to use Timepix detectors in schools, described how students explored everyday radiation sources—bananas, Brazil nuts, even tea—discovering how soil and fertilisers affect radiation levels.

“Exposing students to this cutting-edge technology helps them understand radiation far better than using outdated Geiger counters,” she said.

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Collaboration Fuelling Innovation

Notably, many presentations at the symposium came not from CERN or its direct partners but from end-users of commercial licensees—a testament to how effectively Medipix technology has spread beyond the laboratory. This success highlights the importance of long-term collaboration between science and industry, showing that when research institutions and commercial innovators work together, the impact of fundamental science can reach far beyond its original purpose.