ICFA Statement Regarding Higgs Factory Development and the ILC

The International Committee for Future Accelerators (ICFA) recently met to review global progress and plans in high-energy physics. ICFA reconfirms the international consensus on the importance of a Higgs Factory as the highest priority for realizing the scientific goals of particle physics. This view has only strengthened over time based on results from the world’s particle physics facilities. Various design studies based on different technologies are in progress, including both circular colliders (FCC-ee and CEPC) and linear colliders (ILC and CLIC). ICFA follows with great attention the development of Higgs Factory proposals worldwide and recognizes the importance of advancing such concepts.

ICFA also reaffirms the importance of the regional planning activities that have recently been completed and those underway, which for decades have underpinned the global strategy for the field. Indeed, following the 2020 update to the European Strategy for Particle Physics, Europe is now undertaking a feasibility study for FCC. ICFA eagerly awaits the results of ongoing strategic planning activities in the U.S., China and elsewhere.

Concerning the International Linear Collider (ILC), ICFA reaffirms its position that the concept for the ILC is technically robust and has reached a level of maturity which supports its moving forward with the engineering design study toward its timely realization. Indeed, recent accelerator projects across the globe confirm the readiness of the foundational superconducting accelerator technology.

ICFA commits to continuing efforts within the International Development Team (IDT) over the next year to coordinate the global research community’s activities toward further developing and realizing the ILC in Japan. In particular, the IDT will work to further strengthen international collaboration among institutes and laboratories, and to expand the broad support from various stakeholders. ICFA will monitor developments over the next year to assess availability of resources and progress in international discussions.

ICFA continues to encourage inter-governmental discussion between Japan and potential partner nations to advance international collaboration toward important research and development activities as well as coordination toward realization of an ILC.