More than 6,500 participants and over 500 debates devoted to the economy, innovation, science and the key challenges facing Europe. The 35th Economic Forum, held in Karpacz on 8–10 September 2026, once again brought together representatives of science, business, public administration and politics. NEPHEWS was among the European initiatives presented during the event.
Being present at one of the most important socio-economic events in Central and Eastern Europe provided an opportunity to introduce the project to audiences beyond its immediate community. At the stand of the SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre, the coordinator of NEPHEWS, Forum participants could learn about the project’s objectives, its activities to date and the opportunities it offers to the European scientific community. The project was presented through direct conversations with visitors, supported by dedicated information materials.
Particular interest focused on NEPHEWS’ engagement in Widening countries. Visitors asked about the mechanisms designed to increase the participation of researchers from these countries in using major European research infrastructures, as well as ways of overcoming barriers to access. This is one of the key areas of NEPHEWS, which, through access to research infrastructures, TWINNING programmes and support for early-career researchers, helps broaden the European user community of synchrotrons, neutron sources and free-electron lasers.
The Economic Forum provided a particularly relevant setting for these conversations. In a place where Europe’s competitiveness, emerging technologies and future development were discussed over three days, NEPHEWS highlighted another important dimension of European competitiveness: how effectively we can open up existing research capacities and enable new scientific communities to benefit from them.
