Care, Dare, Share, Be Fair Format: Paperback

IBA (Ion Beam Applications): a human, entrepreneurial and scientific adventure that has been going on for 40 years!

From the design of the first Cyclone 30 cyclotron to the global recognition of proton therapy, the narrative follows a path marked by breakthroughs, crises overcome, and strategic rebounds. It explores the technical, financial, and human challenges faced by an academic start-up that grew into an international player, balancing boldness with rigor, applied research with industrial performance. But IBA is more than a technological pioneer: it is a corporate citizen committed to advancing the common good. Its model is based on balancing the interests of stakeholders—patients, employees, customers, shareholders, communities, and the environment. Its mission — “to protect, enhance, and save lives” — is made tangible through the thousands of patients treated, the hundreds of accelerators installed worldwide, and a culture deeply rooted in trust, transparency, and long-term vision. Beyond machines and markets, IBA is a mindset: an attentive and daring organization, faithful to its roots yet firmly focused on the future.

Nicolas Coupain is a historian and a graduate of the Université libre de Bruxelles. With experience in international organizations and companies, he specializes in corporate culture, scientific and industrial heritage, and sustainability. He has published several reference works in these fields and is dedicated to using insights from the past to help illuminate the future.