INSTITUT ZA FIZIKU

Their core work

The Institute of Physics Belgrade is Serbia's leading research center in fundamental and applied physics, with particular strength in high-energy particle physics and materials science. Their flagship work involves theoretical and experimental studies of quark-gluon plasma — the extreme state of matter created in heavy-ion collisions at CERN's LHC and Brookhaven's RHIC. Beyond fundamental physics, the institute has expanded into environmental applications, contributing expertise in nanomaterials and advanced oxidation processes for wastewater treatment. They also serve as a key node for open science infrastructure and scientific computing in Southeast Europe.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2015-2018, IPB focused on scientific computing infrastructure (VI-SEEM), Earth observation (GEO-CRADLE), materials science (DAFNEOX), and launched their flagship ERC grant in quark-gluon plasma physics. From 2019 onward, a clear pivot emerges toward environmental applications — wastewater treatment, nanomaterials for water purification, and water reuse — alongside continued investment in open science infrastructure (NI4OS-Europe). The institute appears to be bridging its deep physics and materials science capabilities toward applied environmental challenges, while maintaining its core identity in fundamental particle physics.

IPB is translating its materials science and nanomaterials expertise from fundamental research into environmental applications, particularly water treatment — expect them to seek more applied projects in this space.

How they like to work

IPB operates primarily as a contributing partner (6 of 8 projects), but takes the lead when it matters — both coordinator roles are in their core physics domain (QGP tomography, DELTA). With 115 unique partners across 31 countries, they are a highly connected hub rather than a loyal-to-few-partners organization, comfortable working in large, diverse consortia. Their network breadth suggests they are adaptable collaborators who integrate well into multinational teams.

IPB has built an extensive network of 115 unique consortium partners spanning 31 countries — an unusually wide reach for an institute of its size, reflecting strong connections across the Western Balkans, Mediterranean, and core EU member states. Their participation in regional infrastructure projects (VI-SEEM, GEO-CRADLE, NI4OS-Europe) anchors them as a gateway to Southeast European research communities.

What sets them apart

IPB occupies a rare position as a Serbian research center with genuine world-class credentials in particle physics (ERC Consolidator Grant) combined with growing environmental engineering capabilities — a combination almost no other Western Balkans institution offers. Their role in multiple regional infrastructure projects makes them a natural gateway for any consortium seeking Southeast European partners, particularly for Widening Participation calls. For consortium builders, IPB brings both deep scientific expertise and the geographic diversity that EU evaluators value.

Highlights from their portfolio

• QGP tomography
  ERC Consolidator Grant worth €1.36M — IPB's largest project by far and a mark of individual scientific excellence in quark-gluon plasma research.
• NOWELTIES
  Represents IPB's strategic pivot into applied environmental science, combining their nanomaterials expertise with water treatment technologies through a joint PhD laboratory.
• NI4OS-Europe
  Positioned IPB as Serbia's key contributor to the European Open Science Cloud, with €397K funding and a role shaping national open science policy.