USTAV FYZIKY ATMOSFERY AV CR, v.v.i.

Their core work

The Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences studies the Earth's upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and near-Earth space environment. Their core work focuses on understanding radiation belts, space weather phenomena, and how solar activity affects satellite operations and ground infrastructure. They contribute atmospheric and magnetospheric modeling expertise to European research infrastructures, and develop prediction tools for geomagnetic storms and ionospheric disturbances that threaten space assets and navigation systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 participation (2015–2018), IAP focused broadly on planetary science, cosmochemistry, and atmospheric dynamics infrastructure — contributing to large research infrastructure projects like Europlanet and ARISE2. From 2020 onward, their work sharpened dramatically toward radiation belt physics, magnetospheric modeling, and operational space weather forecasting. This shift reflects a move from general space and atmospheric science toward applied prediction of space weather impacts on technology — a field with growing commercial and security relevance.

IAP is moving toward operational space weather services and satellite protection tools, positioning them well for partnerships in the growing space situational awareness sector.

How they like to work

IAP operates exclusively as a participant — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which is typical for a mid-sized national academy institute contributing specialized scientific expertise. With 122 unique partners across 36 countries, they are well-networked through large research infrastructure consortia rather than leading their own initiatives. This makes them a reliable specialist contributor: easy to integrate into large teams, experienced with multi-partner coordination, but not a consortium driver.

IAP has collaborated with 122 unique partners across 36 countries, giving them a truly pan-European (and beyond) network built through large infrastructure projects like Europlanet and PITHIA-NRF. Their connections span atmospheric science labs, space agencies, and planetary research centers across most of Europe.

What sets them apart

IAP sits at a relatively rare intersection: they combine deep atmospheric physics knowledge with magnetospheric and radiation belt expertise, bridging ground-level atmospheric dynamics with near-Earth space effects. Few institutes in Central and Eastern Europe offer this vertical — from atmospheric observation to satellite anomaly prediction. For consortium builders, they bring Czech Academy credibility, strong infrastructure project experience, and a niche in space weather impacts that complements both space agencies and telecoms/satellite operators.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SafeSpace
  Their largest funded project (EUR 307K), directly addressing radiation belt threats to space assets — marking their strongest pivot toward applied space weather.
• PAGER
  Second-largest funding (EUR 287K) with the richest keyword profile, covering geomagnetic storm prediction from magnetospheric physics to operational satellite anomaly forecasting.
• EPN2020-RI
  Their first major H2020 project, embedding them in the pan-European Europlanet infrastructure network that they continued through EPN-2024-RI.