Instytut Fizyki Jądrowej

What Instytut Fizyki Jądrowej does

Instytut Fizyki Jądrowej im. Henryka Niewodniczańskiego Polskiej Akademii Nauk (IFJ PAN) is a Polish state research institute founded in 1956 (70th anniversary in 2026) and headquartered in Kraków, Poland, operating under the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN). It conducts experimental and theoretical research in nuclear physics, elementary particle physics, and applied nuclear science, serving academic institutions, government regulatory bodies (including the National Atomic Energy Agency PAA and CLOR), medical facilities, and the pharmaceutical industry. The institute employs 251–500 staff across its main campus at ul. Radzikowskiego 152 and operates several specialized units.

Its core technical infrastructure includes the Cyclotron Centre Bronowice (CCB), which provides proton radiotherapy for cancer treatment, radioisotope production for nuclear medicine using the AIC-144 cyclotron, and medical physics research; the Laboratory of Radiometric Expertise (LER), an accredited testing facility (AB 788) meeting PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018-02 standards for radon/thoron measurement, gamma spectroscopy, and environmental radioactivity analysis; and the Department of Nuclear Physical Chemistry (NZ64), which develops germanium detectors for neutrino and double beta decay experiments. The institute also operates the Krakow Interdisciplinary PhD School (KISD), open-access publishing programs with Elsevier, Springer, and Oxford University Press, and is expanding a Spectroscopic Imaging Center with AI-supported multimodal structural analysis. Proprietary capabilities include low-background gamma-ray spectrometry, mobile CHIMERA Lab dosimetric systems, and B-STING silica nanocomposite antimicrobial surfaces.

The institute is funded primarily through Polish government subsidies via PAN, European Union research programs (notably Fundusze Europejskie dla Małopolski, with three grants totaling PLN 52.6 million in 2024), and competitive research grants from NCN and NCBiR. It generates commercial revenue through accredited radiometric testing services, contract research, technology transfer via a dedicated commercialization team, and educational/outreach services. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled via individual quotations and grant-funded arrangements. The institute holds the A+ scientific category from the Polish Ministry of Education, HR Excellence in Research designation from the European Commission (2017), and is ranked in the top 3.8% of scientific institutions globally by CWUR 2026.

Name

Instytut Fizyki Jądrowej

Legal name

Instytut Fizyki Jądrowej im. Henryka Niewodniczańskiego Polskiej Akademii Nauk

Website

https://ifj.edu.pl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Instytut Fizyki Jądrowej PAN is a Polish state research institute under the Polish Academy of Sciences, conducting nuclear physics research, proton radiotherapy, radioisotope production, and accredited environmental radioactivity testing from Kraków, serving government, academic, and medical clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nuclear Physics Research and Radiometric Testing Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing (334517)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Research & Test Reactor Operations (Non-Commercial Power) (EUACADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Radiation Detection Instruments & Systems (Portal monitors, spectrometers, contamination monitors) (EUAKAIAK), Nuclear Materials Testing, Assay & Characterization Services (NDA/NDE, radiochemistry, materials analysis) (EUAKAIAL), Nuclear Medicine Clinical Services & Therapy Centers (HLAIAGAI), Medical Radioisotope Production (Reactor/Cyclotron, Mo-99/Tc-99m, I-131, Lu-177, etc.) (EUAKAIAA), Radioisotope Production (Reactor/Cyclotron/Gamma) (HLAIAGAD)

Keywords

• Nuclear physics research
• Radiometric testing services
• Cyclotron medical applications
• Environmental radioactivity monitoring
• Radiation protection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kraków

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IFJ PAN conducts experimental and theoretical research in nuclear and particle physics, operates the Cyclotron Centre Bronowice (CCB) for proton radiotherapy and medical radionuclide production using the AIC-144 cyclotron, and runs the accredited Laboratory of Radiometric Expertise (LER) for environmental radioactivity measurements including radon, thoron, and gamma isotopes. The institute develops proprietary germanium detectors, delivers contract research and accredited testing services, and offers doctoral education through the Krakow Interdisciplinary PhD School (KISD) along with technology commercialization support.

Product overview

Instytut Fizyki Jądrowej im. Henryka Niewodniczańskiego PAN is a nuclear physics research institute offering a portfolio of research services, specialized laboratory facilities, and educational programs. The core offerings include the Cyclotron Centre Bronowice for medical applications and the Laboratory of Radiometric Expertise (LER) for environmental radioactivity testing. The institute operates research departments focused on nuclear physical chemistry and provides commercialization services for technology transfer. Scientific outreach is supported through the KOHA-based library system, open access publishing programs, and science popularization activities including the Małopolska Researchers' Night and the Krakow Interdisciplinary PhD School (KISD).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cyclotron Centre Bronowice (CCB) A medical cyclotron facility at IFJ PAN providing proton radiotherapy for cancer treatment, radioisotope production for nuclear medicine, and research capabilities for medical physics applications. It serves medical centers, nuclear medicine departments, and pharmaceutical/medical device R&D teams requiring accelerator-produced isotopes.
• Laboratory of Radiometric Expertise (LER) An accredited testing laboratory (No. AB 788 under PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018-02) at IFJ PAN providing high-sensitivity measurements of radon, thoron, and gamma isotopes in environmental samples, calibration services, and radon training, offered to government regulators, construction industry, occupational health providers, and other clients requiring accredited radiometric testing.
• Department of Nuclear Physical Chemistry NZ64 Research Services A research department of IFJ PAN conducting environmental radioactivity measurements, radionuclide analysis for medicine using the AIC-144 cyclotron, activation analysis, and germanium detector development for neutrino and double beta decay experiments. It provides contract research, activation analysis services, and custom germanium detector design and production.
• Krakow Interdisciplinary PhD School (KISD) An international PhD studies program operated by IFJ PAN offering interdisciplinary doctoral education in nuclear physics and related scientific disciplines, available to graduate researchers seeking doctoral training at the institute.
• Commercialization Services (Technology Transfer) A bundled technology transfer and commercialization offering from IFJ PAN's Commercialization Team providing intellectual property protection, research result commercialization, and industry collaboration facilitation. It targets companies seeking access to nuclear physics IP, custom instrumentation, and collaborative R&D.
• Scientific Library and Open Access Publishing Programs Library services operated by IFJ PAN including the IFJ PAN Repository (RIFJ), the RODBUK repository, and participation in open access publishing programs with Elsevier, Springer, Oxford University Press, and Scoap3, providing access to scientific databases, repositories, and open access publishing channels for researchers and partner institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked in TOP 3.8% globally among scientific institutions (CWUR 2026)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• China University of Geosciences, BeijingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Joint research project on procedures for field measurements at radon/thoron prone areas for radiological hazard assessment (2017-2019)
• ERA European Radon AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in radon research, standardization of measurement methods, and knowledge exchange on natural radioactivity topics.
• University of Cantabria, Radon GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in radon research and measurement techniques development
• Comenius University, BratislavacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration in nuclear physics and radiometric expertise
• Jozef Stefan Institute, Centre for Radon, LjubljanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research on radon measurement and radiation protection
• Institute of Nuclear Sciences VINČA, BelgradecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in nuclear sciences and environmental radioactivity research
• National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), Chiba, JapancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational cooperation on radon/thoron measurement procedures and radiological hazard assessment
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in international nuclear research programs and radiological protection initiatives
• National Atomic Energy Agency (PAA), PolandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination of Polish radioactive contamination monitoring network since 1990
• Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection (CLOR), PolandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in national radiation protection monitoring and standardization
• AGH University of Science and Technology, KrakówcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration in physics and nuclear research
• KNOW Scientific Consortium PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration within National Leading Scientific Centre designation in physics and related disciplines
• Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), DubnaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on germanium detector construction for neutrino and double beta decay experiments

Scale indicators5 records

Direct peers

• Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection (CLOR): Polish national radiation protection laboratory collaborating with IFJ PAN on national radiation protection monitoring and standardization. Highly comparable in mandate around radiological protection, environmental monitoring, and radon measurement services in Poland.
• Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR): International intergovernmental nuclear physics laboratory in Dubna, Russia. IFJ PAN collaborates with JINR on germanium detector construction for neutrino and double beta decay experiments, making it a directly comparable peer in fundamental nuclear physics instrumentation.
• Institute of Nuclear Sciences VINČA: Serbian national nuclear sciences institute collaborating with IFJ PAN on nuclear sciences and environmental radioactivity research. Comparable as a regional national nuclear research lab with similar research, training, and radiation services offerings.
• Jozef Stefan Institute: Slovenia's leading national research institute with comparable multi-disciplinary physics, nuclear science, and environmental radioactivity programs. IFJ PAN has an active partnership with its Centre for Radon, making it a directly comparable peer in scope, scale, and mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN): Italy's national nuclear physics research organization. Much larger and broader in scope, but directly comparable in mission (fundamental nuclear physics research, detector development, and nuclear medicine applications) and in serving as the national reference body for the discipline.
• Mirion Technologies: Global leader in radiation detection, measurement, and monitoring instrumentation. Comparable commercial overlap with IFJ PAN's radiometric testing and germanium detector capabilities, though Mirion operates at significantly larger scale and as a commercial vendor.
• Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR): German research center with strong programs in nuclear and radiation physics, radiopharmaceutical development, and accelerator technology. Comparable in combining fundamental nuclear physics research with applied radiation/medical isotope work.
• GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung: Germany's leading heavy-ion and nuclear physics research center. Larger and broader than IFJ PAN, but directly comparable in operating large-scale accelerator/cyclotron infrastructure for fundamental research and applied nuclear physics applications.
• Forschungszentrum Jülich: Large German interdisciplinary research center with nuclear physics, nuclear medicine, and detector development programs. Comparable in operating large research infrastructure and conducting radiation-related contract research for industry and government.

Emerging players

• IBA (Ion Beam Applications): Belgian commercial provider of proton therapy solutions and radiopharmaceutical production systems. Directly comparable in the proton therapy and medical radioisotope production segments where IFJ PAN's Cyclotron Centre Bronowice competes for clinical and research customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ifjpan
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHVsXFQjV8zZFRn66pc5LCw
• Facebookfacebook.com/InstytutFizykiJadrowejPAN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ifj-pan

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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