The first cyclotron-based research center in the South Caucasus is scheduled to start operation from 2024 in Kutaisi, Georgia. This project is a part of the new Kutaisi International University, which is the youngest public university in Georgia. This cyclotron-based center, also known as the Hadron Therapy center (HTC) will be equipped with 2 superconducting synchro-cyclotrons IBA S2C2, providing maximum energy of accelerated protons 230 MeV. One of these accelerators is part of IBA single gantry Proteus©ONE system for the proton therapy, while the other one is the main device for new research infrastructure, with the proton beams in the 70-230 MeV energy range. The center is funded by the International Charity Foundation Cartu, the largest charity foundation in Georgia.
This center is foreseen to become a research hub for international projects with low energy (up to 230 MeV) proton beams, including projects in nuclear physics, radiation biology and medicine as well as material sciences and detector development and testing. The current status of the project will be discussed in the talk.
