Neutron Research Facilities as Drivers of Innovation and Economic Growth

Understanding the Value of Neutron Research

Evidence indicates that neutron research facilities play a positive role in driving innovation, supporting industries, and generating long-term economic returns. These facilities contribute to a wide range of societal applications, from improving product performance to optimizing water resource management, enhancing food security, and protecting public and environmental health. 

Neutron research can be used to analyze the properties of almost any physical thing at a highly refined level and without damaging the source material, including soil, water, air, fuel cells, solar cells, living cells, plastics, ceramics, paints, and magnetic materials. By revealing what materials are made of and how they behave, this research helps the discovery of new materials and improve existing ones. Neutron research has been used to design more resilient plant breeds, improve semiconductor performance, reduce structural failures in aircraft components, enhance the uptake of pharmaceutical treatments in the human body, and even to characterize irreplaceable cultural artifacts, providing valuable information about the origins of objects and the environment and circumstances of their creation.

Investing in new or updated neutron research facilities globally may contribute to strengthening scientific infrastructure and could help reduce reliance on highly enriched uranium that powers older research reactor models, advancing both research capabilities and nonproliferation goals. With growing demand across fields like energy, materials science, and nuclear security, such investments in neutron research facilities could ensure continued scientific discovery while support economic resilience and national security goals.

Analyzing the Economic Impact of Neutron Research

But how can we measure this impact? Understanding the economic impact of scientific investments is essential for making informed funding decisions. Economic impact assessments, particularly return-on-investment (ROI) analyses, help quantify the benefits of neutron research. When considering investments in neutron sources, key economic questions include:

• What do you want to accomplish with a neutron source?
• What are the expected benefits of potential outcomes?
• How do benefits align with budget and timescale?

Since many benefits are not naturally monetized, this approach translates real-world economic value into measurable terms. 

One example of this in practice is a recent National Institute of Standards and Technology study, where we assessed the economic value of federal neutron scattering facilities, providing critical data to guide future funding decisions. Based on the case studies included in our review, findings were positive, indicating an estimated net present value from neutron scattering facilities of $29.4 billion and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.67, meaning that for every dollar invested in federal neutron scattering facilities, $2.67 in benefits has been achieved.

Informing the Future of Neutron Research

Continued research will strengthen the foundation for future neutron source capabilities by ensuring long-term economic modeling captures the full impact of these critical investments. It could also support comparative assessments of complementary materials assessment technologies, such as spallation sources, reactors, synchrotrons, and emerging X-ray technologies. These evaluations would help guide strategic investment decisions to maximize materials research infrastructure.

To explore our ROI analysis further, check out the webinar, "Neutrons: Role and Socioeconomic Impact in Modern Society," that Amanda Walsh presented at the International Atomic Energy Agency Ministerial Conference.