A delegation from the SOLARIS Centre attended the Nanotexnology 2024 event as part of the LEAPS-INNOV project. Nanotexnology is the most significant technology, networking and matchmaking event in the field of nanotechnology in Greece and Balkan countries. It combines four parallel scientific conferences (ISFOE24, NN24, I3D24 and ISSON24), an exhibition space (EXPO) and business events (BUSINESS FORUM). Our goal was to introduce participants to the research capabilities of European synchrotrons and FELs, especially as no such infrastructure is available in the Balkan region.
The conference, held in Thessaloniki, Greece, between June 29 and July 6, 2024, was a crucial platform to spread awareness about the possibility of conducting research at synchrotron facilities and FELs. This was especially important for the academics and industrial actors in a community without local access to such infrastructure.
- "The NANOTEXNOLOGY conference makes it possible to explore opportunities for development in fields such as nanotechnology, organic and printed electronics and nanomedicine. The NANOTEXNOLOGY 2024 venture has enabled the integration of more than 2,000 researchers, scientists, engineers, business, technical and policy professionals to promote research and industrial cooperation, identify priorities and strengthen the innovation ecosystem." - the Organizers said at the conference's opening ceremony.
The event was incredibly fruitful for SOLARIS, as we engaged in a number of talks with representatives of companies and academia from all over the world. These discussions, which were with more than a hundred individuals from at least twenty countries, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Latvia, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, the United States and the United Kingdom, were particularly valuable. The most precious discussions were with the representatives of centres without direct access to synchrotron radiation, aligning with one of the goals of LEAPS-INNOV WP8. More than 60% of our talks fulfilled this goal, and that is only counting those we had the opportunity to take notes.
"In particular, the meetings with people from the Balkan region were valuable, as they were mostly unaware of the existence of a synchrotron in Poland and often did not even know that such research centres as synchrotrons exist." said Agnieszka Cudek, the Head of Communications at SOLARIS.
- "We should lean on strengthening information activities in this region. In particular, through activities aimed at building a culture of using large research infrastructures", Cudek added.
Participation in the conference consisted of arranging and operating an exhibition booth as part of the EXPO, participation in one-on-one talks during the Matchmaking Event, a 15-minute speech presenting LEAPS-INNOV and SOLARIS as part of the BUSINESS FORUM component, and a presentation of synchrotron radiation capabilities in the form of an Invited Speaker as part of the Nanosciences & Nanotechnologies (NN24) conference. Three people participated in the event: Mikolaj Golunski (EXPO, BUSINESS FORUM), Agnieszka Cudek (EXPO, BUSINESS FORUM) and Alexey Maximenko (NN24).
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