Horizon 2020 is the largest research and innovation funding program in the history of the European Union. Funds obtained in the Twinning call will allow SOLARIS to implement the international project "Sylinda".

The leader of the project will be SOLARIS, while the partners will be the ALBA synchrotron (Spain) and two universities: Hochschule Niederrhein and the University of Bonn. The consortium’s activities will aim to encourage industry to use the SOLARIS research infrastructure and increase its capabilities. The project goals will also include expanding the group of scientists that visit SOLARIS.

One of the main tasks in the project will be to support the construction of the beamline which is being built by SOLARIS and Hochschule Niederrhein. The new beamline will be used for X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements. Thanks to the Sylinda project, it will become a unique research infrastructure, enabling, among others, the testing of materials containing low Z-elements (from sodium to chlorine). These elements (such as phosphorus and sulphur) play important roles in the course of biological processes. Others such as silicon are used in industry (for the production of paint and adhesives, as an additive in rubber products, but also pharmaceutical articles). Currently, testing of these elements (in particular silicon and phosphorus) is not possible in any synchrotron centre in Europe.

During the project, an action plan that will allow SOLARIS to establish effective cooperation with industrial partners will be devised. The key issue is also to increase the recognition of the Kraków synchrotron centre among small and medium enterprises interested in research & development investments. In addition, a training program for early stage scientists in research management will be developed and implemented. In this program, the main focus will be on explaining industry research needs and showing how they can be met.

To achieve all the above-mentioned goals, an Industry Liaison Office will be established at SOLARIS. The ALBA synchrotron will organise a summer school for young researchers. Short-term staff exchanges will expand SOLARIS scientific team’s knowledge of research funding, innovation transfer, cooperation with SMEs, intellectual property law, and industry services. A workshop for representatives of small and medium enterprises and an international symposium for the European synchrotron community will also be organized. At the same time, technical and scientific activities will be implemented. The beamline being built jointly by the Hochschule Niederrhein and SOLARIS will be equipped with a fluorescence spectrometer, which will greatly increase its research capabilities.

The "Sylinda" project will start this summer and will last three years.