IFIGENEIA is pioneering a new era in nuclear medicine with compact, efficient LINAC technology.
The project spans 6 countries—Greece, Slovenia, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany and Switzerland — uniting experts in science, medicine & culture.
IFIGENEIA will develop a design & business plan for a new LINAC facility in the Balkans.
The project includes creating Excellence Hubs focused on R&I, business, and societal impact.
IFIGENEIA is tapping into CERN’s advanced accelerator know-how to build local capacities.
IFIGENEIA follows the SMART objective model—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-related.
A major goal of IFIGENEIA? Secure long-term investment for isotope production hubs via public-private partnerships.
Isotope production isn't just for medicine—it's also used in archaeology, environmental studies & art preservation.
The IFIGENEIA links academia, government, industry & society in a true quadruple helix approach.
LINACs reduce reliance on highly enriched uranium, offering a safer, cleaner isotope supply.
IFIGENEIA aims to create at least one new patent in particle acceleration techniques.
Within IFIGENEIA, over 1500 citizens across 6 countries will be engaged through events and outreach by 2029.
With IFIGENEIA, a new EU-wide LINAC Cluster is in the making—linking national hubs for greater R&I impact.
IFIGENEIA project goes beyond health—LINACs will aid in analysing ancient artefacts.
IFIGENEIA includes training, secondments & good practice exchanges to build skills across regions.
10+ scientific IFIGENEIA papers will be submitted, and an international event organised to share findings.
IFIGENEIA promotes regional innovation strategies (RIS3) aligned with EU goals.
Gender & diversity are at the core of IFIGENEIA —ensuring inclusive participation and analysis.
Public showcase IFIGENEIA events will open demo sites for citizens, students & agencies.
One key goal: Mobilise €6 million in public-private funding over 4 years.
IFIGENEIA will help establish new spin-offs and startups in nuclear tech fields.
By 2029, 300 stakeholders from academia, public bodies, business & society will be involved IN IFIGENEIA.
IFIGENEIA is not just a project—it’s a movement toward smarter, safer, more accessible nuclear healthcare.
IFIGENEIA will contribute to the creation of new high-skilled job positions in nuclear tech fields, while also attracting top researchers from abroad, reducing brain drain and fostering brain gain in the scientific sector.
Geographical Focus
Main Hubs
Greece (LINAC design, Beam dynamic studies, Beam parameters and HW specifications, Safety and radiation protection requirements, Small scale LINAC prototype, Pilot in health and culture),
Slovenia (Controls, Lab condition development, Isotopes identification, Ligands investigation, Pilot pre-clinical studies),
Cyprus (Business plan, Dissemination & Exploitation strategies, Knowledge exchange).
Mentorship for Western Balkans
Bosnia and Herzegovina (support for future excellence hubs: Mentoring activities, Knowledge transfer).
International collaboration
Germany, Switzerland (Joint R&I pilots and strategies linked to RIS3 and EU policy, Knowledge transfer and ecosystem infrastructures, Mentoring and R&D support, Funding opportunities, Investment plans).
Current Status 2024
Nuclear medicine
Cyclotrons 
Disadvantages
- Fixed energy and target
- Specific radioisotope production (PET or SPECT)
- Limited availability of high-energy particle accelerators
- Not cost-effective
- Impurity products
Molecular imaging
Nuclear reactors
Disadvantages
- Shortage of reactor produced 99-Mo used in 99m-Tc generators
- 99Mo is currently produced in older research reactors using HEU
- Security issue surrounding the safe storage of the HEU
- Expected lifespan of these older reactors
IFIGENEIA 2025-2029
- LINAC/RFQ design
- Beam parameters and HW specifications for different operational scenarios
- Handling of different isotope production scenarios
- Controls for automatic operation with AI algorithms
- Lab conditions development
- Identification of best isotopes for production with LINAC
- Best Ligands investigation
- Pilot use cases in health and culture
- Testing of ligand isotope
- Training sessions
- Knowledge transfer
- Mentoring (Master Classes, VR RI production unit)
- Joint investments plan
- Action Plans
IFIGENEIA VISION 2025-2029
Linear Accelerator
NUSANO best practice
- Generation of different isotopes simultaneously enabling commercial-scale production of the active pharmaceutical ingredients needed for Next-generation cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
- Compact and green (low radiation) facility that can be located in the proximity of the hospitals
- Multipurpose facility (Cultural heritage and industrial applications, irradiation facility for clinical tests)
- Perspective of being extended to a cancer treatment facility (~50MeV) in the future.
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The IFIGENEIA project addresses the challenges of modern nuclear medicine by introducing advanced LINAC (Linear Accelerator) technology as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional radioisotope production sources. The project will establish three Excellence Hubs in Greece, Slovenia, and Cyprus, serving as innovation centers for the development, validation, and commercialization of radioisotopes and related technologies. The main goal is to support research, diagnostics, therapy, and theranostics by utilizing LINAC technology, which enables high flexibility, safety, and accessibility. Each Hub brings together key stakeholders from research, industry, public sector, and civil society in a quadruple-helix model, while aligning with regional RIS3 strategies. In addition to the technological dimension, the project includes the development of investment strategies, the strengthening of entrepreneurial skills, and mentoring activities for Western Balkan countries, with the aim of fostering long-term European integration and knowledge transfer.
Project Overwiev
Project title:
Innovative Facility for Isotope GENeration with Efficient Ion Accelerator
Acronym:
IFIGENEIA
Programme:
Horizon Europe – WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-07
Action Type:
CSA – Coordination and Support Action
Duration:
March 2025 – February 2029 (48 months)
Total Budget:
€6,000,000
Coordinator:
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece
Project motto:
Knowledge and science for the health of tomorrow