The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is a private, non-profit organization overseen by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI). Headquartered in Campinas (SP), the CNPEM operates four national laboratories (LNLS, LNBio, LNNano and LNBR) and is home to Sirius, the most complex project in Brazilian science and one of the world’s most advanced synchrotron light sources. From 2022, with support from the Ministry of Education, the CNPEM broadened its activities with the opening of the Ilum School of Science, a unique undergraduate program in science, technology and innovation.

The CNPEM’s work involves countless activities organized into four main lines: Facilities Open to Outside Users; In-House Research and Development; Support for Innovation; and Training, Education, and Extension. These four areas are dynamic, interconnected, and feed into each other. The CNPEM’s work is founded on three important institutional pillars: a team of excellence composed over the years, modern scientific facilities brought together on a unique campus, and a management model and culture focused on results.

The open facilities at the CNPEM provide sophisticated scientific instrumentation for academic and industrial research. For academic research, the researcher must submit a research proposal via the SAU Online platform, which does not involve costs or registration fees. Learn more here. For companies that wish to conduct R&D&I activities that involve intellectual property or commercial use, there are several options: cooperation agreements, technology transfer and licensing, and provision of services and internal technological demands. These proposals should be sent to inovacao@cnpem.br.

Sirius is funded by the Brazilian federal government via the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI).

At Sirius, electromagnetic radiation is generated by the particle accelerator, a machine that stops emitting radiation as soon as it is turned off. No radioactive material is used, so there is no risk of explosion or release of these materials into the environment. The radiation safety program at Sirius is meant to ensure the safety of the facilities by controlling access to certain areas and complying with the norms established by the Brazilian National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) for radiation exposure values, classification of areas, and radiation safety measures. The controls implemented at Sirius are generally more rigorous than those recommended by these norms. All accessible areas in the facilities have radiation levels that correspond to natural radiation, and consequently are considered radiation-free.