What’s ICNMTA
The International Conference on Nuclear Microprobe Technology and Applications (ICNMTA) traces its origins to the 2nd International Conference on Chemical Analysis by Charged Particle Accelerators, held in Namur, Belgium, in 1981. Recognized as the “zero-th” meeting of the series, it marked the beginning of what has grown over the past four decades into a well-established international tradition. Since the 1st ICNMTA, hosted by the University of Oxford in 1987, the conference has been held biennially around the world, providing a unique forum for scientists from diverse fields to present their latest results and to exchange ideas in this rapidly expanding area.
The aims of the conference are to advance the science and technology of focused ion beam formation and its applications; to discuss challenges related to beam focusing; to explore new applications ranging from analysis to microfabrication; and to nurture the next generation of researchers and engineers. The program features plenary lectures, oral and poster presentations, and lively discussions that span fundamental research through to the latest industrial applications. The conference also serves as a platform for fostering international collaboration and supporting young researchers.
Following the early meetings in Melbourne (1990), Uppsala (1992), Shanghai (1994), Albuquerque (1996), Cape Town (1998), and Bordeaux (2000), ICNMTA was held in Japan for the first time in 2002 in Takasaki. Since then, the tradition has continued across the globe: Dubrovnik (2004), Singapore (2006), Debrecen (2008), Leipzig (2010), Lisbon (2012), Padova (2014), Lanzhou (2016), Guildford (2018), and Ljubljana (2022, after the virtual meeting in 2020). Most recently, the 19th ICNMTA was hosted in July 2024 in Madrid, Spain, under the leadership of Associate Professor María Dolores Ynsa, drawing 116 participants from 24 countries—reflecting a steady recovery in attendance.
Nuclear microprobe technology has never been the product of a single researcher, institution, or nation. Its evolution is a truly collaborative achievement, made possible by sustained international cooperation. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has long recognized this by providing continuous support to the series. Japan has also played a central role in this framework. When the 8th ICNMTA was held in Japan, national research institutes took on a leading role in organizing the meeting. Over the past two decades, nuclear microbeam research has matured, and leadership has expanded to include several universities as key centers of research and education.
The 20th ICNMTA, jointly organized by Tohoku University and the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), will continue this tradition. In addition to the core topics of focused ion beam technology, the conference will highlight new directions strongly advanced in Japan, including quantum information and quantum sensing, life sciences, advanced materials, and related frontier fields. From fundamental developments in focused ion beam probes to applications in biology and medicine, ICNMTA2026 will provide a wide perspective for discussing future directions of this exciting field.