The Science and Technology Ministry and the world’s largest particle physics laboratory have sealed a cooperation and exchange agreement.

The ministry said Wednesday that it signed with the European center for nuclear research CERN a related memorandum of understanding.

Under the agreement, domestic universities and research institutes will be allowed to join the center's research activities and use its particle accelerator - reputed to be the world's largest -
while contributing domestic research in particle physics.

The agreement, which came after two years of negotiations, will also likely provide a framework facilitating cooperation between domestic researchers and the European lab.