What Nuclear Physics Institute CAS does

The Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences (Ústav jaderné fyziky AV ČR, v.v.i.) is a public research institution founded in 1955 and headquartered in Řež/Husinec, Czech Republic, marking its 70th anniversary in 2025. It operates experimental nuclear physics infrastructure under the CANAM large research infrastructure program, including the U-120M and TR-24 cyclotrons, the Mikrotron MT25 electron accelerator, the Tandetron 4130 MC tandem accelerator, the MILEA Accelerator Mass Spectrometer, and neutron beam lines fed by the LVR-15 research reactor. The institute also runs the Czech Radiocarbon Laboratory (CRL), established in 2004, which provides 14C dating services to archaeology, geology, and environmental science clients.

Its work spans fundamental nuclear and hyperfine-interaction research, radiation applications, materials characterization via ion beams, and applied radiocarbon dating. The institute generates publications in peer-reviewed journals, trains graduate students in collaboration with Czech universities, and contributes detector and instrumentation components to large international physics projects. Its business model is anchored in institutional funding from the Czech Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, supplemented by competitive grants (GA ČR, TA ČR), EU framework and structural funds, contract research for entities such as the European Space Agency (ESA), and commercial dating, irradiation, and characterization services to healthcare, defense, archaeology, and industrial customers including Eckert & Ziegler.

Its customer base mixes international physics organizations (CERN, FAIR, ESS, ESA, GANIL), Czech public-sector buyers (Czech Army, Czech healthcare and nuclear-medicine facilities, archaeology institutes), and industrial partners. The institute's recent strategic emphasis has been on maintaining its instrument portfolio, expanding into the European Spallation Source via the BEER detector, joining the STAR spin-physics collaboration in 2024, and launching an internal AI initiative in early 2026 to extend computational capability across its research lines.

Name

Nuclear Physics Institute CAS

Legal name

Ústav jaderné fyziky AV ČR, v. v. i.

Website

https://ujf.cas.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences is a public research institute, founded 1955 in Řež, Czech Republic, operating cyclotrons, tandem accelerators, an AMS system, and the Czech Radiocarbon Laboratory to serve international physics collaborations, Czech healthcare and defense, and archaeology and industrial clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nuclear Physics Research Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Medical Laboratories (621511), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Nuclear Materials Testing, Assay & Characterization Services (NDA/NDE, radiochemistry, materials analysis) (EUAKAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medical Radioisotope Production (Reactor/Cyclotron, Mo-99/Tc-99m, I-131, Lu-177, etc.) (EUAKAIAA), Radiation Measurement, Dosimetry & Monitoring Services (Personal/environmental dosimetry, calibration labs) (EUAKAIAH), Research & Test Reactor Operations (Non-Commercial Power) (EUACADAH), Radioisotope Production (Reactor/Cyclotron/Gamma) (HLAIAGAD)

Keywords

• Nuclear physics research
• Radiocarbon dating services
• Accelerator mass spectrometry
• Medical isotope production
• Radiation sterilization

Headquarters

HQ city

Řež (Husinec)

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Institutional Funding: Core funding from the Czech Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports as a public research institution (v.v.i.)
2. Grant-Funded Research Projects: European and international research infrastructure funding (CANAM, FAIR-CZ, SPIRAL2-CZ, CRREAT, RAMSES, ESS-SCANDINAVIA-CZ) and ESA project funding
3. Fee-for-Service Radiocarbon Dating: Radiocarbon dating and AMS analysis services offered to academic and commercial customers with published pricing
4. Radiation Sterilization Services: Free radiation sterilization service for healthcare providers using Mikrotron MT25, with potential for paid commercial services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nuclear Physics Institute CAS operates a portfolio of accelerator-based nuclear research infrastructure and analytical services. Core offerings include radiocarbon dating and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) through the Czech Radiocarbon Laboratory, medical radionuclide production (99mTc, actinium-225), radiation sterilization using the Mikrotron MT25 electron accelerator, neutron activation analysis, ion beam applications via the CANAM large research infrastructure, and cosmic radiation dosimetry. The institute provides open access to its research facilities for external academic, government, and commercial users.

Product overview

Nuclear Physics Institute CAS (Ústav jaderné fyziky AV ČR) is a public research institution offering a portfolio of nuclear physics research services and specialized laboratory facilities. The core offerings include the Czech Radiocarbon Laboratory (CRL) for radiocarbon dating and AMS analyses, and the CANAM large research infrastructure combining multiple accelerator facilities including Cyclotron U-120M, Cyclotron TR-24, Mikrotron MT25, Tandetron 4130 MC, and the MILEA accelerator mass spectrometer. Additional services include radiation sterilization using Mikrotron MT25. The institute conducts fundamental and applied research across theoretical physics, heavy ion physics, nuclear reactions, neutron and ion methods, radiation dosimetry, and radiopharmaceuticals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Czech Radiocarbon Laboratory (CRL) Dating Services Radiocarbon dating, carbon-14 analyses, organic residue analysis, compound-specific radiocarbon analysis, and stable isotope analysis using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) for archaeological, environmental, and cultural heritage applications.
• CANAM Open Access Research Infrastructure Large research infrastructure combining accelerator and neutron facilities (Cyclotron U-120M, TR-24, Mikrotron MT25, Tandetron 4130 MC, LVR-15 reactor beams) offering open access for research with accelerated ion and neutron beams to external academic and research users.
• Radiation Sterilization Service Radiation sterilization of medical equipment and sensitive materials using the Mikrotron MT25 electron accelerator, capable of destroying pathogens through ionizing radiation within minutes and handling materials up to 5 cm in thickness.
• MILEA Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Service Ultra-sensitive determination of long-lived radionuclides using the MILEA Multi-Isotope Low-Energy Accelerator Mass Spectrometer, operating at up to 300 kV, for radiocarbon dating and isotope analysis.
• Medical Radionuclide Production Production of medical radionuclides for nuclear medicine, including technetium-99m via the U-120M cyclotron and research on actinium-225 for cancer treatment through partnership with Eckert & Ziegler AG.
• Cyclotron TR-24 Beam Services Compact medical cyclotron for production of radionuclides for nuclear medicine and supporting medical and research applications.
• Mikrotron MT25 Cyclic Electron Accelerator Services Cyclic electron accelerator capable of destroying pathogens through ionizing radiation within minutes, used for radiation sterilization of medical equipment and scientific research applications.
• Tandetron 4130 MC Ion Beam Services Linear accelerator for ion beam applications, nuclear analytical methods, and materials research using accelerated ion beams, including microstructural modifications of glass for optical signaling.
• Cyclotron U-120M Beam Services Multi-purpose cyclotron for producing accelerated ion beams for nuclear physics experiments and medical isotope production.
• Neutron Activation Analysis Service Nuclear analytical method for trace element analysis in various materials including environmental and biological samples using neutron beams from the LVR-15 research reactor.
• Cosmic Radiation Dosimetry and Measurement Research and instrumentation for cosmic radiation measurement at Earth, aboard aircraft (AIRDOS04 on Czech Army Airbus A-319 CJ), and spacecraft (CZPAD and ZOE for ISS missions), supporting ESA space programs and aviation safety.

Quantifiable outcome

• Contributed to achieving the world's lowest upper bound for neutrino mass measurement in KATRIN experiment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• GANIL (Grand Accélérateur National d'Ions Lourds)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership in SPIRAL2-CZ project for French-Czech nuclear research collaboration. Jointly organizes Czech-French Barrande Nuclear Research Workshops. GANIL provides access to the SPIRAL2 facility and supports collaboration in heavy ion physics research.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Development of cosmic radiation measurement experiments CZPAD and ZOE for Czech astronaut Aleš Svabody's mission to ISS. Provides flight opportunities for radiation dosimetry instruments developed at NPI.
• Eckert & Ziegler AGmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Agreement for preparation of actinium-225 (225Ac) radionuclide for oncological treatment research. Partnership for development of new medical radionuclides for cancer therapy.
• FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Participation in FAIR-CZ project for Czech involvement in the international FAIR research infrastructure being built in Darmstadt, Germany. NPI scientists contribute to CBM, PANDA, NuSTAR, and APPA experiments.
• Institute of Archaeology of the CAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint operation of the Czech Radiocarbon Laboratory (CRL) with international code CRL, established in 2004. Collaborative work on archaeological dating and cultural heritage analysis.
• CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing participation in CERN experiments and collaborations. NPI contributes to various CERN research programs through the CERN-CZ project.
• European Spallation Source (ESS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in ESS-SCANDINAVIA-CZ project for Czech involvement in the ESS research facility in Lund, Sweden. NPI contributes to the BEER detector development for neutron research.
• Technical University Munich (TUM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with MLZ research center in Garching on neutron physics experiments. Joint research on hydrogen behavior in metals using neutron diffraction methods.
• Czech Technical University (FJFI ČVUT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent exchange agreement with FAIR infrastructure. Joint hosting of HYP2022 conference. Co-development of PARDAL2 radiation detector for LVICE2 lunar mission.
• Archeologický ústav AV ČR PrahacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint workplace for the Czech Radiocarbon Laboratory (CRL), dedicated to dating artifacts and natural specimens using accelerator mass spectrometry.
• SÚJV Dubna (Joint Institute for Nuclear Research)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical collaboration with Russian nuclear research center in Dubna, including ion beam experiments for radiobiology and radiation therapy research.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Heavy Ion Laboratory (University of Warsaw): Polish national heavy-ion accelerator laboratory operating a U-200P cyclotron for nuclear physics and applied research. Closely comparable in size, mission, and Central European institutional positioning to NPI's accelerator department.
• GANIL (Grand Accélérateur National d'Ions Lourds): French heavy-ion accelerator facility that NPI partners with directly under SPIRAL2-CZ and co-organizes Czech-French Barrande workshops with. Comparable as a national-scale heavy-ion and nuclear physics research infrastructure serving academic users.
• iThemba LABS: South African national accelerator facility offering cyclotron-based isotope production, nuclear research, and radiation dosimetry — a comparable mid-sized public-sector accelerator laboratory serving similar research and applied use cases as NPI.
• Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI): Swiss national research institute operating cyclotrons and proton accelerators for fundamental research, medical isotope production (including 225Ac-related programs), and materials analysis — directly comparable to NPI's accelerator and radiopharmaceutical portfolio.
• Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR Dubna): Russian international nuclear physics laboratory at Dubna, a long-standing NPI collaborator for ion-beam experiments and radiobiology research. Comparable as a multi-national accelerator-based nuclear physics institute.
• Helmholtz-Zentrum für Schwerionenforschung (GSI): German national laboratory for heavy-ion research, including antiproton and ion physics, with accelerator infrastructure comparable to NPI's cyclotrons and ion-beam methods. Both institutions participate in the FAIR facility and overlapping experiments.
• NOSAMS (National Ocean Sciences AMS Facility, WHOI): US accelerator mass spectrometry facility specializing in radiocarbon dating using similar AMS technology to NPI's MILEA system. Directly comparable as a high-precision radiocarbon dating service for ocean sciences, archaeology, and environmental research.
• TRIUMF: Canada's particle accelerator centre, operating cyclotrons for nuclear physics, medical isotope production, and materials analysis. Comparable scope to NPI as a publicly funded national accelerator facility with applied medical isotope services.

Broad incumbents

• Eckert & Ziegler AG: Major commercial radiopharmaceutical and medical isotope company that is itself a partner of NPI for 225Ac production. Comparable as a downstream customer and industry player in the same nuclear medicine/isotope supply chain.
• IBA (Ion Beam Applications): Global leader in cyclotron-based isotope production and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing. Comparable as a commercial-scale operator in the same technology domain (medical cyclotrons, isotope production) that NPI serves with TR-24 and U-120M.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfOSRcQF2EW70wVmtCxrHRg
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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nuclear-physics-institute-cas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Nuclear Physics Institute CAS