The SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre has been officially identified as one of the key research infrastructures of pan-European significance under the European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructure, a document adopted by the European Commission on 15 September this year.

Young researchers associated with the National Synchrotron Radiation Centre SOLARIS have been selected as laureates of the National Science Centre’s PRELUDIUM 24 grant. Among the projects recommended for funding are studies conducted by Karolina Kadela, a doctoral within the CIRI beamline, and Jan Konopka, whose work is carried out within the ARYA beamline. Their innovative projects — focusing respectively on the spectroscopic characterisation of cellular mineralisation and the design of novel modulators of plasma kallikrein activity — highlight the scientific activity of early-career researchers at the SOLARIS Centre and their involvement in cutting-edge research initiatives.

Professor Ellen Moons, a distinguished physicist and member of the Nobel Committee for Physics, has been actively promoting the use of synchrotrons as a key research tool in the development of new materials for energy and optical technologies. Her scientific and organizational contributions have enabled breakthroughs in optoelectronics, sustainable energy, and advanced microscopy. At the SOLARIS synchrotron, Professor Moons conducts research on molecular semiconducting materials employed in organic photovoltaic cells. Using linearly polarized X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the PIRX beamline, she analyzes the orientation of molecules in thin molecular films. Spectra recorded at various incident angles, exploiting the effect of linear dichroism, allow for the assessment of the directionality of chemical bonds and the degree of molecular order.

In an era increasingly shaped by the pursuit of sovereignty and strategic autonomy, can global scientific solidarity still thrive? When countries prioritise security and independence, how can the spirit of international scientific cooperation be preserved, and what role can research infrastructures play in this? These questions were addressed during a strategic panel discussion held on 14 November 2025 during the 8th LEAPS Plenary Meeting, hosted by SOLARIS at the Krakow Technology Park.

The two-day event “AP-XPS at SOLARIS: Defining Research Directions”, held on 24–25 November, brought together the scientific community to explore current developments and future opportunities in Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (AP-XPS). The meeting aimed not only to introduce participants to the fundamental principles and experimental possibilities of AP-XPS, but also to present the vision and planned capabilities of the upcoming Near-Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) endstation at the SOLARIS synchrotron. This new endstation will enable investigations of solid–gas interfaces using soft X-rays, opening significant new possibilities for research in catalysis, surface chemistry, and environmental science.