History

The 34th IUPAP General Assembly held in October 2025 approved the transformation of IUPAP WG16 on Physics and Industry into a Standing Committee (under VP at Large) on Physics Outside Academia. This SC is chaired by the Vice-President at Large for Physics Outside Academia. 

  • October 2017 – The 29th IUPAP General Assembly resolves to establish a Working Group on Physics and Industry, WG16.
  • July 2020 – The first draft on the WG16 mandates and objectives was established.
  • October 2021 – A report with recommendations was submitted to the 30th IUPAP General Assembly in Geneva.
  • 2022 – 2024 – The 31st  IUPAP General Assembly (Trieste) and the 32nd IUPAP General Assembly (Geneva) approved the continuation of WG16. 
  • October 2024 –  In view of IUPAP’s rejuvenation process, the 33th IUPAP Generaly Assembly (Haikou), approved the continuation of WG16 till the next GA.
  • October 2025 – The 34th IUPAP GA approved the transformation of WG16 into a Standing Committee on Physics Outside Academia to be chaired by the Vice-President at Large for Physics Outside Academia. 

Mission/Mandate

  • Provide recommendations to the IUPAP General Assembly and Executive Council on how to foster international cooperation in physics between industry and academia.
  • Identify mechanisms to acquire new Corporate Associate Members (CAMs) and define their rights and benefits.
  • Provide resources of interest to industrial physicists and students aiming to careers in the industry.
  • Maintain a dedicated webpage for CAMs with specific information and resources.
  • Co-organize international meetings, workshops, and prizes in collaboration with IUPAP Commissions and Working Groups.

Additional information

Other ideas for the Standing Comitee and/or meeting topics include

  • Determine how professional societies can be more useful, responsive, and attractive to industrial members as most aspects of professional societies are geared towards academia. Share best practices across societies.
  • Document how global physics facilities worldwide support industrial physics.
  • Document how physics education can be more relevant to industrial physics (Note: APS has done this for undergraduate physics education with J-TUPP task force and the Phys21 report )
  • Determine issues and roadblocks related to the international flow of human resources needed for industrial physics.
  • Determine key physics issues that are the core of key international ”grand challenges” .

Resources

Reports