The LHCb Vertex Detector Upgrade

The likely discovery of new particles at LHC will be an exciting opportunity to probe physics beyond the Standard Model and will raise new questions that may be elucidated by precision measurements of beauty and charm decays. The LHCb experiment is poised to start this ambitious program when LHC turns on, and is planning to continue it with an upgrade that should enhance its physics sensitivity by at least two orders of magnitude. A new vertex detector is a critical component to achieve this goal. Important requirements are a radiation resistance up to a fluence of about 10$^{16} n_{eq}\rm{cm}^{-2}$, and a configuration suitable for use in a fast and efficient vertex trigger. The design concept and technology options considered will be reviewed.