International Union of Pure and Applied Physics

What International Union of Pure and Applied Physics does

The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) is a non-profit international scientific organization founded in 1922 in Brussels and recognized as the only global scientific union covering all areas of physics. It serves 50-60 territorial members (national physics societies), individual physicists and researchers participating in conferences and awards, and a smaller tier of Corporate Associate Members. Decision-making runs through periodic General Assemblies (e.g., the 33rd in China in 2022, the first in-person in seven years) and an Executive Council, with operational governance distributed across 20 Commissions spanning sub-disciplines from C2 (Symbols, Units, Nomenclature, Atomic Masses and Fundamental Constants) through C20 (Computational Physics), 6 Affiliated Commissions (e.g., optics, acoustics, medical physics), and more than 14 Working Groups including WG5 (Women in Physics), WG19 (Quantum Science and Technology), WG20 (Open Science), and WG21 (Physics for Climate Change Action and Sustainable Development), plus standing committees on ethics, diversity and inclusion, physics outside academia, and membership and development.

Core offerings comprise conference endorsement and sponsorship (with explicit emphasis on supporting gatherings in developing countries), a tiered scientific awards program (Young Scientist Prizes, Henri Abraham Award, Interdisciplinary Early Career Scientist Prize, and associated medals), and publications/newsletter distribution through iupap.org and social channels. The technical stack is essentially digital infrastructure for member communication, conference management, and publications distribution; no commercial product surface or proprietary technology offering is sold. The supporting partnerships with UNESCO (IYBSSD 2022/2023, IYQ 2025), the International Science Council, the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), and the Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science (SCGES) form the substantive operational backbone, alongside the secretariat housed at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy.

Revenue is generated through membership dues paid by national physics societies, fees from Corporate Associate Members, conference and sponsorship activity, and publication-related income; specific pricing, audited financials, and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. With a secretariat headcount of 1-10, the organization operates a lean delivery model with global reach, and its financial mechanics are not oriented toward equity, growth capital, or shareholder return in any conventional sense.

Name

International Union of Pure and Applied Physics

Legal name

International Union of Pure and Applied Physics

Website

https://iupap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) is the only global non-profit scientific union covering all areas of physics, serving 50-60 national physics society members plus corporate associates through conference sponsorship, scientific awards, 20 commissions, and working groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Scientific Organization (Physics)

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB), United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA), Accreditation & Metrology Cooperation (Calibration, Measurement Standards) (BPADANAE), Physics Enrichment Programs (EDAMABAH)

Keywords

• International scientific unions
• Physics research coordination
• Scientific conference sponsorship
• Physics awards program
• Scientific standards development

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) is the sole international scientific union covering all areas of physics. It facilitates worldwide physics cooperation by endorsing and sponsoring international conferences, running a portfolio of scientific awards for physicists at different career stages, convening periodic General Assemblies for member governance, publishing organizational news and standards, and operating 20 Commissions and 6 Affiliated Commissions covering every physics sub-discipline. The organization is funded by membership dues from approximately 50–60 territorial members (national physics societies) and Corporate Associate Members.

Product overview

IUPAP is the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, a global scientific organization covering all areas of physics. It is not a technology product company but rather a membership organization that facilitates international cooperation in physics through conference sponsorship, scientific awards, working groups, commissions, and publications. The organization was established in 1922 in Brussels and currently has 50-60 active territorial members. IUPAP's core offerings include conference endorsement/sponsorship services, an awards program recognizing scientists at various career stages, and operational commissions covering physics sub-disciplines such as particle physics, astrophysics, nuclear physics, and quantum science.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conference Sponsorship and Endorsement Program in which IUPAP endorses and sponsors international physics conferences and workshops, providing visibility, selection through Commissions, and additional support for events in developing countries.
• Scientific Awards Program Portfolio of scientific awards recognizing physicists at various career stages, including Young Scientist Prizes, the Henri Abraham Award, and the Interdisciplinary Early Career Scientist Prize.
• General Assembly Periodic General Assemblies (e.g., 33rd, 34th) serving as IUPAP's primary decision-making body, bringing together member representatives for governance and policy decisions.
• Publications and Newsletters Publications, newsletters, and online resources that share physics news, announcements, organizational updates, and standards with members and the broader physics community.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025IUPAP partnered with UNESCO for the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 2025 (IYQ 2025). Ghana led 71 co-sponsoring member states in submitting the resolution to the UN General Assembly. The closing ceremony was held in February 2026 in Accra, Ghana, with expert panels and the launching of the UNESCO-led Global Quantum Initiative.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2022IUPAP collaborates with UNESCO as a key partner in declaring and implementing the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD 2022/2023). IUPAP President Michel Spiro declared the year open at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on July 8, 2022. The partnership involves 49 international scientific unions and research organizations as Steering Committee members, with 110 national science academies supporting the movement.
• Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science (SCGES)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2020IUPAP and other international organizations established SCGES as a Standing Committee to promote gender equality in science by continuing and enlarging the work of the Global Approach to the Gender Gap project. The partnership supports women and girls' equal access to science education and fosters equal opportunity and treatment in scientific careers. President of IUPAP, Michel Spiro, signed the MOU on June 6th, 2020. SCGES has been growing and incorporating new partners since its creation.
• International Science Council (ISC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIUPAP participates in the International Science Council as a member organization. Through this partnership, IUPAP contributes to global science policy discussions and initiatives including recent calls for placing science at the heart of global governance in coordination with ISC and other scientific organizations.
• ICTP (International Centre for Theoretical Physics)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIUPAP maintains liaison with ICTP and hosts its secretariat at the ICTP facilities in Trieste, Italy. The IUPAP Secretariat is located at Fondazione Internazionale Trieste per il Progresso e la Libertà delle Scienze c/o ICTP, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste. The Centennial Symposium was held at ICTP in July 2022.
• Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJINR honored Prof. Michel Spiro with the Oganesson Prize and conferred Honorary Doctor status during the 139th session of the JINR Academic Council in February 2026. V.A. Rubakov was a member of JINR's Scientific Councils. IUPAP maintains cooperation with JINR through various scientific activities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• European Physical Society (EPS): EPS is the regional equivalent of IUPAP for Europe, organizing divisions covering physics sub-disciplines, conferences, and awards. Closely comparable as a physics-society peer with overlapping scope in convening European physicists and policy advocacy at the EU level.
• International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC): IUPAC is the sister international scientific union for chemistry, sharing IUPAP's structure as a non-profit membership organization, governance via General Assemblies, and ICS/ISC affiliation. Directly comparable as a parallel discipline-focused international union with similar funding model and convening role.
• International Astronomical Union (IAU): IAU is the ISC-affiliated international scientific union for astronomy. It shares IUPAP's membership model (national members), General Assembly structure, and standards-setting role (e.g., IAU for astronomical nomenclature parallels IUPAP's C2 Commission on units and constants).
• Institute of Physics (IOP): IOP is the UK-based physics membership organization with international reach, publishing journals and running conferences and policy programs. A peer by virtue of operating parallel member services, awards, and publishing infrastructure for the global physics community.
• International Mathematical Union (IMU): IMU is the international scientific union for mathematics, structurally and organizationally identical to IUPAP — non-profit, member-country-funded, ICS affiliated, with similar commission structure, conferences, awards, and mandate to foster international cooperation.
• American Physical Society (APS): APS is a major physics membership society that convenes physicists, publishes journals, awards prizes, and engages in policy advocacy. While it is a national rather than international organization and operates on individual membership, it competes with IUPAP for prestige and convening authority in the global physics community.

Broad incumbents

• American Institute of Physics (AIP): AIP is a federation of physical science societies that publishes, advocates, and supports physicists; among other activities, it awards the Tate Medal referenced in IUPAP leadership profiles. A peer in operating society-level infrastructure (publishing, awards, policy) for the physics community globally.
• International Science Council (ISC): ISC is the umbrella organization of which IUPAP is a member, convening international scientific unions across all disciplines. Comparable as the coordinating body for global science policy and as a peer in operating international, member-funded non-profit governance for science.
• UNESCO Natural Sciences Sector: UNESCO is IUPAP's principal intergovernmental partner for IYQ, IYBSSD, and quantum/STEM initiatives. A peer/partner in convening global science cooperation, providing institutional reach and funding support that IUPAP's lean secretariat depends upon.

Others

• Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR): JINR is an international intergovernmental physics research laboratory that recently honored IUPAP's President Michel Spiro with the Oganesson Prize. Comparable as an international physics institution operating across member states, with which IUPAP maintains ongoing scientific cooperation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IUPAP_physics
• Facebookfacebook.com/iupap
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iupap

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Union of Pure and Applied Physics