The LEAPS Battery Research Forum, titled “Future of Batteries & Synchrotrons: Pushing Boundaries,” took place in Lund, Sweden, from 21–23 January 2026, bringing together researchers, facility scientists, and user communities from across Europe. Hosted in close connection with MAX IV Laboratory, the forum provided a dynamic and collaborative setting to discuss the latest advances in battery research and large-scale characterisation methods.
The forum also featured the NEPHEWS project, coordinated by the Solaris National Synchrotron Radiation Centre. The project was represented by Piotr Piwowarczyk, who presented a poster introducing NEPHEWS’ objectives, key actions, and achievements to date. The presentation also outlined upcoming activities actively inviting the audience to learn more about the project and engage in its activities.
NEPHEWS aims to broaden and democratise access to Europe’s leading neutron, synchrotron radiation, and free-electron laser research infrastructures. Through a novel bottom-up, user-to-user approach, the project directly engages more than 40,000 scientists via European user organisations, while aligning major infrastructure providers within the LEAPS and LENS consortia. A strong emphasis is placed on supporting new and non-expert users, with targeted actions for researchers from Widening countries, Ukraine, and Africa, contributing to a more inclusive European Research Area.
By combining transnational access to facilities, twinning collaborations, training for early-stage researchers, and extensive outreach and virtual access activities, NEPHEWS represents a new model for user-driven integration of European research infrastructures. Its presence at the LEAPS Battery Research Forum underlined the close connection between cutting-edge battery research and initiatives aimed at widening access and strengthening scientific capacity.