Case study of the socio-economic impacts of an Ion Beam Analysis facility in Brazil

This article examines the socioeconomic impacts of the Ion Beam Analysis (IBA) Laboratory at the University of São Paulo (LAMFI-USP), which has been in operation since 1992. The use of accelerated ion beams for materials analysis at USP has led to technological advancements in various fields, including environmental science, cultural heritage preservation, archaeology, and medical and biological applications, significantly contributing to scientific research, technological development, and human resource training in Brazil. The innovations generated at LAMFI-USP encompass advancements in IBA techniques, as well as collaborative research in areas such as fusion reactors, solar cells, environmental monitoring, archaeology, healthcare, microelectronics, and energy. By supporting research in both basic and applied sciences, the laboratory has fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, generating socioeconomic benefits and enhancing Brazil’s scientific competitiveness on a global scale. This work also explores the hypothesis that the socioeconomic impact of a research laboratory can, as a first approximation, be estimated by the square of its corresponding Technology Readiness Level (TRL). Although the TRL is not a direct metric of socioeconomic impact, each level incorporates the cumulative effort and societal value required to achieve that level of technological maturity. As a consequence, a Socio-Economic Impact Index (SEII) is proposed to both evaluate the broader societal impact of the laboratory and assist in ranking ongoing research activities as part of an auxiliary assessment of its operations.