High Energy Photon Source (HEPS) Clears Process Acceptance

High Energy Photon Source (HEPS) has officially passed process acceptance, marking a milestone for China’s next‑generation synchrotron capabilities.

Quick take: HEPS process acceptance — what happened

The Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP; Zhongguo Kexueyuan Gaoneng Wuli Yanjiu Suo 中国科学院高能物理研究所) announced on October 30, 2025 that HEPS passed its process acceptance.

HEPS is China’s first high‑energy synchrotron radiation facility and the first fourth‑generation synchrotron light source in Asia.

Expert evaluation: why the panel approved HEPS

The acceptance expert panel concluded HEPS’s integrated performance reaches an international leading level among comparable facilities.

The panel called HEPS a generational leap for China’s synchrotron capabilities.

The expert group highlighted three core outcomes from the project:

• Scientific capacity: Strong support for major frontier scientific questions.
• Talent development: Cultivation of a cohort of high‑level personnel.
• Strategic value: Alignment with national strategic needs and core technology development.

Based on that review, the expert group approved HEPS to pass process acceptance.

What HEPS will enable — the “super‑eye” for the microscopic world

HEPS is often described as a “super‑eye” for probing the microscopic world.

Once fully operational, HEPS will produce light with a brightness roughly 1 trillion times that of the sun, making it one of the brightest fourth‑generation synchrotron sources ever designed.

That exceptional brightness lets researchers observe microscopic structures and reveal formation and evolution mechanisms with unprecedented clarity.

Facility scope and technical highlights — accelerator, beamlines, and energy reach

The facility is composed of two major systems: the accelerator complex and the beamline stations.

HEPS is designed to accommodate no fewer than 90 high‑performance beamlines.

In Phase I, the project will provide 14 user beamlines and one test beamline, delivering X‑rays with photon energies up to 300,000 electron volts (300 keV).

Key technical and operational highlights include:

• Fourth‑generation synchrotron technology enabling ultra‑high brightness and coherence.
• Scalable beamline architecture planned for expansion to the full 90+ beamline design.
• High photon energy reach up to 300 keV for deep penetration and advanced material probes.

Research and industrial impact — where HEPS will move the needle

HEPS will support research aligned with national strategic priorities and strengthen industrial innovation capacity.

Expected domains of impact include:

• Engineering materials — nanoscale structural characterization and failure analysis.
• Semiconductors and microelectronics — device imaging, defect analysis, and materials testing.
• New drug discovery — high‑resolution structural biology and small molecule characterization.
• Petrochemicals and energy — catalyst studies and in‑situ reaction monitoring.
• Environmental science — trace element mapping and pollutant speciation.
• Nanomaterials research — atomic‑scale imaging and phase mapping.

Those sectors are likely to see leapfrog advances enabled by HEPS’s combination of brightness, energy reach, and beamline capacity.

Project timeline and construction — the path to acceptance

The HEPS project formally began in June 2019.

The project is being constructed by the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP; Zhongguo Kexueyuan Gaoneng Wuli Yanjiu Suo 中国科学院高能物理研究所) under the approval and guidance of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC; Guojia Fazhan He Gaige Weiyuanhui 国家发展改革委).

After more than six years of construction, the project owner, IHEP, has completed the construction tasks and objectives specified in the NDRC approval.

What investors, founders, and tech teams should watch

HEPS’s acceptance signals a strong foundation for downstream innovation and commercialization opportunities in advanced materials, semiconductors, and life sciences.

Key takeaways for investors and founders:

• New R&D backbone: Access to world‑class beamlines will accelerate R&D cycles for startups and corporate labs.
• Strategic national support: The project aligns with national priorities, suggesting sustained funding and policy backing.
• Talent pipeline: The cultivation of high‑level personnel creates a pool of skilled researchers and engineers for industry collaboration.

Bottom line

HEPS passing process acceptance positions China with a state‑of‑the‑art fourth‑generation synchrotron that will enable unprecedented microscopic observation and drive cross‑sector innovation.

High Energy Photon Source (HEPS)

References

• 高能同步辐射光源通过工艺验收 – 科技日报
• 高能同步辐射光源（HEPS）项目 – 中国科学院高能物理研究所
• 中国科学院 – Chinese Academy of Sciences