A national neutron beam program
Providing access to research infrastructure in Canada and abroad
Program Missions
Enabling research that makes impact
National neutron beam facilities produce social and economic impacts worth at least double the investment.
Canadian universities are leading the way to build Canadian capacity for materials research with neutron beams. The neutron community has set forth a unified vision in the Canadian Neutron Long-Range Plan for 2025 to 2035.
The Long-Range Plan recommends a “national neutron beam program" that will enable impactful research in areas such as energy, defence, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, health, and quantum innovation.
Domestic Operations
International Partnerships
Building For the Future
Domestic Operations
McMaster University has been awarded CFI funds to develop a neutron beam user laboratory at the McMaster Nuclear Reactor: the Canadian Neutron Beam Laboratory (CNBL). Much of this funding is through the CFI Innovation Fund for Parts 1 and 2 of the project, “Building a Future for Canadian Neutron Scattering.”
The CNBL formally opened to users in 2024, and is undergoing expansion from one neutron beamline in its user program to six over the next several years.
“Completion of the [CNBL] is the top priority for domestic neutron beam initiatives. This neutron beam lab’s operations must be funded to maximize access by all researchers across Canada.” – Canadian Neutron Long-Range Plan
International Partnerships
McMaster University has been awarded funds for limited, short-term partnerships with major neutron sources in the US and Europe through the CFI Innovation Fund for Parts 1 and 2 of the project, “Building a Future for Canadian Neutron Scattering.” So far, the CFI funds have enabled a partnership launched in 2026 for Canadian access to the Spallation Neutron Source in the United States. More partnerships with foreign neutron sources are under development.
In addition, Neutrons Canada completed a short-term partnership in 2025 with the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source in the United Kingdom, funded by the UK International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF).
These initiatives have provided, or will provide, much-needed partial relief to the neutron shortage in Canada. Yet greater on-going investment is needed to sustain a set of “priority partnerships that will collectively provide access to the full range of neutron techniques necessary for Canada to continue world-leading research programs in materials,” as outlined in the Canadian Neutron Long-Range Plan.
Building For the Future
“Europe and the U.S. are investing heavily in advanced neutron beam capabilities … Canada must prepare to reinvest in new neutron sources as well, because the supply of neutron beams is shrinking as older sources are retired faster than new ones are coming online.” – Canadian Neutron Long-Range Plan
A national team of researchers led by the University of Windsor has completed a feasibility study to design and build a prototype compact accelerator-driven neutron source (CANS) that would be used to test neutron source technologies, as well as to conduct materials research and to develop and demonstrate an innovative cancer therapy with a neutron beam. To take this CANS concept to the next step and conduct a technical design study, the University of Windsor will receive $2M under the recently awarded project, “Building a Future for Canadian Neutron Scattering Part 2.”
In addition, an alliance of major players in nuclear research and development has formed to develop a concept for a new multi-purpose research reactor for Canada, which may include a neutron beam laboratory.
In the Canadian Neutron Long-Range Plan, the neutron beam community describes and prioritizes technology options for a high-brightness national-scale neutron source, including a CANS, multipurpose research reactor and partnerships with large-scale international spallation sources such as the European Spallation Source or the Second Target Station at SNS.