SOLARIS Centre as a member of the League of European Accelerator-based Photon Sources (LEAPS), was organizer the LEAPS-INNOV annual meeting which took place from 8th to 10th April 2024. The conference was held in a hybrid format and was attended by a total of 120 participants. Than was followed by a scheduled meeting of the Consortium's Board of Directors, which deliberated on the strategic directions of development during the LEAPS General Assembly. The meeting with leading representatives of the European synchrotron community was also joined by the Director of the Department of Innovation and Development (DIR) of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Michał Doligalski.

The LEAPS-INNOV pilot project is dedicated to advancing the collaboration between European light sources, including synchrotrons and free-electron lasers, and industry. By implementing new strategies and activities, LEAPS-INNOV seeks to establish long-term partnerships that benefit both parties. The annual meeting held in Kraków, offered a platform for stakeholders to review progress made within 9 different work packages, including updates on ongoing technological developments, and research outcomes. 
- Attendees had the chance to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and explore opportunities for further collaboration and innovation. By hosting the LEAPS-INNOV annual meeting in Kraków, SOLARIS demonstrated its commitment to fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and advancing the role of synchrotron radiation in scientific research and industrial applications within the European photon source community – said Dr. Adriana Wawrzyniak LEAPS-INNOV project manager on behalf of the Jagiellonin University, Accelerators Deputy Director SOLARIS Centre.

During the two-day meetings, the LEAPS Board managed to discuss and set future directions for the development of synchrotron infrastructures using the combined forces of the entire consortium in accordance with the principle: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together“.
In addition to the representatives of NCPS SOLARIS, the voice of Polish science at the meeting was Prof. Piotr Kuśtrowski, Vice-Rector for Research, and Michał Doligalski, Director of the Department of Innovation and Development (DIR) of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

 Members of the LEAPS-INNOV annual meeting

In the photo from the left: Thomas Feurer (European XFEL), Jean Daillant (Synchrotron SOLEIL), Britta Redlich (HFML-FELIX, Radboud University), Jakub Szlachetko (Synchrotron Solaris), Michał Doligalski (Departament Innowacji i Rozwoju MNiSW), Piotr Kuśtrowski (Jagiellonian University).

Photo by  Joanna Kowalik, Michał Fałowski