[7] IUPAP carries out this mission by: sponsoring international meetings; fostering communications and publications; encouraging research and education; fostering the free circulation of scientists;[8][9] promoting international agreements on the use of symbols, units, nomenclature and standards;[10][11] and cooperating with other organizations on disciplinary and interdisciplinary problems.

IUPAP is the lead organization promoting the adoption of the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development,[15] a proposal to be considered by the 76th session of the UN General Assembly.

In accordance with this principle, the 1922 General Assembly of the IRC convened at Brussels and a number of physicists present decided that the formation of a Physics Union was imperative.

Thirteen countries (Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Empire of Japan, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States and Union of South Africa) immediately announced their adherence to the new Union.

An Executive committee was formed which undertook to prepare rules, regulations, and activities of the organization.

Corbino, M. Knudsen, M. Leblanc, R.A. Millikan, H. Nagaoka, E. Van Aubel, and H. Abraham.

The committee had Bragg as President, Van Aubel as Vice-President, and Abraham as Secretary.

The year 2022 marked the centenary of the IUPAP, organized and run by the physics communities of the world.

Commission on Symbols, Units, Nomenclature, Atomic Masses & Fundamental Constants C3.

Each year, IUPAP endorses approximately 30 international conferences and awards grants to the majority of them.

Unlike the Type A, B and C conferences, they do not need to be truly international, but should involve neighbouring countries, and they should address the needs of the region.

These include: IUPAP was founded in 1922 with 13 members: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Empire of Japan, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, and South Africa.

IUPAP, whose mission is to assist in the worldwide development of physics, to foster international cooperation, and to help in the application of physics toward solving problems of concern to humanity, has throughout its history defended the stand that no scientists should be barred from participating in conferences or events on the basis of their nationality or their affiliation.

[5][46] Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, IUPAP issued a statement against the military offensive, while advocating for continued international scientific cooperation.

[47][48][49] To alleviate sanctions in science and to promote principles and policies for international scientific collaboration,[50] IUPAP offers physicists, including students, from any country around the world, who feel excluded from academic exchange based exclusively on their affiliation and/or country of origin, to apply to use the IUPAP as their affiliation.