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ENSAR2 · Project

Nuclear Physics Tools for Better Medical Imaging and Industrial Radiation Detection

healthPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)
ensarfp7.eu

Imagine Europe's best nuclear physics labs pooling their equipment and brainpower so scientists can share particle beams and detectors instead of each lab reinventing the wheel. ENSAR2 connected 10 major facilities across 15 countries, letting researchers use ion beams and high-energy gamma rays to study atomic nuclei — and then apply what they learned to real-world problems like medical imaging and archaeology. They also built new detection tools, including a plastic scintillator prototype that can spot radiation more cheaply than traditional detectors. Think of it as a shared workshop for nuclear science, where the side projects often turn into practical technology.

By the numbers
10
major nuclear research facilities connected across Europe
31
consortium partners collaborating on nuclear science tools
15
countries represented in the research network
87
total deliverables produced
20 MeV
maximum gamma-ray beam energy available at ELI-NP facility
EUR 10,000,000
EU contribution to the project
The business problem

What needed solving

Companies in medical imaging, nuclear safety, and industrial inspection need better radiation detectors that are cheaper, lighter, and more versatile than current crystal-based options. Access to advanced ion beam facilities for testing and developing these detectors is expensive and fragmented across Europe, making it hard for individual companies to tap into cutting-edge nuclear instrumentation research.

The solution

What was built

The project built a plastic scintillator prototype for radiation detection and produced 87 deliverables covering nuclear instrumentation, beam technology, and detector development. It also established shared access to 10 major nuclear physics facilities across 15 European countries.

Audience

Who needs this

Medical imaging equipment manufacturers (PET/SPECT scanner makers)Nuclear decommissioning and radiation monitoring companiesAnalytical laboratories using ion beam analysis for materials scienceDefense and security companies developing radiation detection systemsArchaeological and cultural heritage labs needing non-destructive analysis tools
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical Imaging Equipment
enterprise
Target: Companies manufacturing PET scanners, gamma cameras, or radiation therapy equipment

If you are a medical device manufacturer looking for better radiation detectors — this project developed a plastic scintillator prototype that could offer a cheaper, lighter alternative to crystal-based detectors. The consortium of 31 partners across 15 countries tested detector technologies using gamma-ray beams up to 20 MeV, generating knowledge directly applicable to next-generation imaging hardware.

Nuclear Safety & Decommissioning
mid-size
Target: Companies providing radiation monitoring, nuclear plant decommissioning, or waste management services

If you are a nuclear services company needing reliable, affordable radiation detection — this project's plastic scintillator prototype and 87 deliverables on detector and beam technologies could help you build better monitoring systems. The consortium included 14 research organizations with deep expertise in nuclear instrumentation and ion beam physics.

Cultural Heritage & Archaeology
any
Target: Analytical laboratories and museums using ion beam analysis for artifact dating and material analysis

If you run an analytical lab that dates artifacts or identifies material composition — this project improved access to 10 ion beam facilities across Europe and developed advanced instrumentation for nuclear analysis techniques. The project explicitly targeted multidisciplinary applications including archaeology, with 31 partners generating specialized know-how in beam-based material analysis.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to access these nuclear beam facilities or license the detector technology?

The project operated as a publicly funded research infrastructure (EUR 10,000,000 EU contribution) providing transnational access to 10 facilities. Access for researchers was typically free under the EU program. Licensing terms for specific technologies like the plastic scintillator prototype would need to be negotiated directly with the developing institution.

Can the plastic scintillator prototype be manufactured at industrial scale?

Based on available project data, the plastic scintillator exists as a prototype (listed as a demo deliverable). Scaling to industrial production would require further engineering and manufacturing partnerships. The consortium had only 1 industrial partner (3% industry ratio), suggesting the technology is still in the research-to-prototype transition.

Who owns the intellectual property from this project?

IP from EU-funded projects typically belongs to the partner that generated it, in this case primarily the 15 universities and 14 research organizations in the consortium. The coordinator, GRAND ACCELERATEUR NATIONAL D'IONS LOURDS in France, would be the first point of contact for licensing discussions.

Is the detector technology compliant with nuclear safety regulations?

The project involved 10 established nuclear research facilities operating under national and EU nuclear safety regulations. However, specific regulatory certification for commercial products derived from project results (like the scintillator prototype) would still need to be obtained separately.

How long before these technologies could be integrated into commercial products?

The project ran from 2016 to 2021 and produced 87 deliverables including the plastic scintillator prototype. Based on the prototype stage and very low industry participation (1 industrial partner out of 31), commercial integration would likely require additional development cycles and industry partnerships.

What kind of technical support is available for companies interested in these technologies?

The consortium of 31 partners across 15 countries includes deep expertise in nuclear instrumentation. The networking activities were specifically designed to stimulate application-oriented research and connect with potential users outside the nuclear physics community.

Consortium

Who built it

The ENSAR2 consortium is overwhelmingly academic — 15 universities and 14 research organizations with just 1 industrial partner, giving it a 3% industry ratio. This tells a business person that the technology is still firmly in the research world. The coordinator, GRAND ACCELERATEUR NATIONAL D'IONS LOURDS (GANIL) in France, is one of Europe's premier ion beam facilities. The 15-country spread across Europe means wide access to nuclear expertise, but the near-absence of industry partners suggests that commercial translation was not a primary goal of this project. Any company interested in these technologies would likely be among the first industrial adopters.

How to reach the team

GRAND ACCELERATEUR NATIONAL D'IONS LOURDS (GANIL), France — a major national nuclear physics laboratory

Order a report on this consortiumSee GRAND ACCELERATEUR NATIONAL D'IONS LOURDS profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

SciTransfer can connect you directly with the ENSAR2 research teams and help you evaluate whether their detector prototypes or beam technologies fit your product roadmap.

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