CERN developed WR as open-source hardware, with primary adoption by other research infrastructures with similar challenges in highly accurate synchronization of distributed electronic devices. The R&D process and all knowledge gained throughout the development has been made available through CERN's Open Hardware Repository. This gives other organizations and companies the freedom to use and modify existing developments. Through proactive engagement of CERN's Knowledge Transfer group and Beam Controls group, a larger group of companies and organizations connected to the development of hardware, software, and gateway for WR switches and nodes. The WR ecosystem quickly grew to include several organizations, developing open hardware for widespread benefit. This collaborative approach brought improvements to the original concept, allowing CERN to also benefit from the new developments as well.
This new Ethernet-based technology, which ensures sub-nanosecond synchronization and deterministic data transfer, is now deployed in numerous scientific infrastructures worldwide. It has shown its innovative potential by being commercialized and introduced into different industries, including telecommunications, financial markets, smart grids, space industry and quantum computing.
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