GROUPEMENT INTERET PUBLIC ARRONAX

Their core work

GIP ARRONAX is a French public-interest research facility operating a high-energy cyclotron dedicated to producing radioisotopes for nuclear medicine, medical imaging, and cancer therapy. Based in Saint-Herblain (near Nantes), they specialize in manufacturing medical isotopes — particularly those used in PET imaging, targeted alpha therapy, and theranostics. Their core contribution to European research is providing rare, high-purity isotopes that enable precision cancer treatment and advanced radiopharmaceutical development.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2017), ARRONAX participated in fundamental nuclear science infrastructure (ENSAR2) and exploratory radioisotope beam work (MEDICIS-PROMED), with no specific keywords recorded — suggesting a broad, facility-support role. By 2021, their focus sharpened dramatically toward applied medical isotope production, with PRISMAP bringing explicit work in isotope mass separation, theranostics, radiopharmaceuticals, and precision cancer treatment. The trajectory is clear: from general nuclear physics infrastructure toward highly specialized medical isotope supply.

ARRONAX is moving decisively toward becoming a European hub for medical-grade isotope production, positioning itself at the intersection of nuclear physics and precision oncology.

How they like to work

ARRONAX operates exclusively as a participant or third party — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which is consistent with their role as an infrastructure and production facility that supports larger research programmes. With 53 unique partners across 19 countries from just 3 projects, they plug into very large, pan-European consortia rather than small bilateral collaborations. This means partnering with them gives you access to a wide network, but expect them to contribute specialized facility access and isotope expertise rather than project management.

Despite only 3 projects, ARRONAX has worked with 53 different partners across 19 countries — a remarkably wide network built through participation in large-scale European research infrastructure consortia. Their connections span most of the EU, reflecting the distributed nature of nuclear physics and medical isotope research communities.

What sets them apart

ARRONAX operates one of the few high-energy cyclotrons in Europe capable of producing medical isotopes at research and clinical scales — this physical infrastructure is rare and difficult to replicate. For consortium builders, they offer something most partners cannot: actual isotope production capacity combined with mass separation expertise. If your project needs access to non-standard radionuclides for therapy or imaging research, ARRONAX is one of a handful of European facilities that can deliver.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PRISMAP
  Their largest funded project (EUR 273,625) and most focused — a European medical isotope programme combining mass separation with clinical applications in cancer treatment.
• MEDICIS-PROMED
  An early project connecting CERN's MEDICIS facility with medical applications of radioisotope beams, signalling ARRONAX's bridge role between nuclear physics and medicine.