USTAV PRISTROJOVE TECHNIKY AVCR VVI

Their core work

The Institute of Scientific Instruments of the Czech Academy of Sciences (ISI CAS) in Brno develops advanced photonic and optical instrumentation for precision measurement and biomedical research. Their core competence lies in optical fiber networks for ultra-precise time and frequency distribution, as well as photonic tools for brain imaging and neural disease research. They also contribute expertise in multimodal medical imaging techniques combining MRI, MRS, and PET. The institute bridges fundamental physics instrumentation with applied biomedical optics, making them a versatile partner for projects requiring custom optical and photonic solutions.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

ISI CAS entered H2020 with work on precision time-frequency networks (CLONETS, 2017) and medical imaging signal processing (INSPiRE-MED, 2019). Their focus then expanded into advanced photonics — structured light and integrated photonics (Super-Pixels, 2019) and deep-brain neurophotonics (DEEPER, 2021). The trajectory shows a clear shift from measurement instrumentation and imaging toward applied biophotonics and neural optical interfaces.

ISI CAS is moving toward biomedical photonics applications, particularly optical tools for neuroscience — a direction likely to continue as neurophotonics gains clinical relevance.

How they like to work

ISI CAS participates exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator, across all five H2020 projects. With 56 unique consortium partners across 13 countries, they join medium-to-large consortia and contribute specialized instrumentation expertise rather than leading project direction. This profile suggests a reliable technical contributor that brings specific photonic and optical capabilities to diverse research teams.

ISI CAS has collaborated with 56 distinct partners across 13 countries, indicating a well-distributed European network built through diverse thematic projects rather than repeated partnerships.

What sets them apart

ISI CAS occupies an unusual niche: they combine precision optical instrumentation (time-frequency metrology) with biomedical photonics (neural interfaces, brain imaging). Few institutes bridge these two domains, making them valuable for projects that need custom photonic hardware designed for either physics or life science applications. Based in Brno — a strong Czech photonics hub — they bring hands-on instrument-building capability that complements computational or clinical partners.

Highlights from their portfolio

• DEEPER
  Largest single funding (EUR 402,500) and represents their newest direction — photonic tools for targeting neural diseases, combining optogenetics with advanced microscopy.
• INSPiRE-MED
  Highest funded project (EUR 446,713) as an MSCA training network, combining machine learning with multimodal medical imaging across MRI, MRS, and PET.
• CLONETS-DS
  Follow-up design study to CLONETS, demonstrating sustained commitment to European optical clock network infrastructure over multiple project cycles.