ELI - The Extreme Light Infrastructure

05/05/2026

🌍 International Day of Light 2026 at ELI – One Night, Two Locations!

On 15 May, both ELI ALPS and ELI Beamlines Facilities will open their doors to the public for an evening dedicated to light, lasers, and the energy shaping our future.

✨ ELI Beamlines (Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic, 16:00–20:00)
Step inside one of the world’s leading laser research facilities:
– Guided tours of cutting-edge laser systems
– Behind-the-scenes access to workshops
– Talks revealing the story of ELI
– Interactive exhibits, VR/AR experiences, and laser safety demos
More information: https://bit.ly/4en3LMS

⚡ ELI ALPS Laser Research Institute (Szeged, Hungary, 17:00–21:00)
This year’s theme: “We have energy for everything” – inspired by the ELI’s new solar park and its commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Visitors can explore:
– Spectacular live science demonstrations
– Interactive activities and challenges
– Insightful science talks
– A fun “lightning questions” experience, unlocking access to otherwise restricted areas
More information: https://bit.ly/4uxi5qY

Join us and discover the power of light!

29/04/2026

📊 ELI’s 8th User Call shows strong international demand

The recently closed 8th ELI User Call attracted 146 proposals, submitted by 134 Principal Investigators and supported by more than 411 co-proposers from across the global research community.

The submissions reflect a diverse scientific portfolio, with strong representation in materials and surface science, particle acceleration, life sciences, plasma physics, and AMO physics. Proposals also span applications in health, energy, advanced materials, and emerging areas such as environmental and cultural heritage research.

🌍 Participation remains strongly international, led by Germany, followed by Italy and the Czech Republic, alongside contributions from the United Kingdom, the United States, and other global partners.

These results highlight the continued engagement of ELI’s user community and the importance of open access to large-scale research infrastructures.

👉 Read more: https://www.eli-laser.eu/news/eli-s-8th-user-call-shows-steady-demand/

24/04/2026

💥 The first Montenegrin ELI Partner Day took place in Podgorica this week, marking an important milestone following Montenegro’s accession to ELI ERIC as an Observer.

The event, hosted at the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro, highlighted shared priorities, strengthened existing partnerships, and opened the door to new collaboration opportunities. It was preceded by a reception at the European House in Podgorica, setting the stage for meaningful dialogue and exchange.

🤝The programme brought together high-level representatives, including Minister Prof. Anđela Jakšić-Stojanović, alongside key stakeholders from the innovation ecosystem, the scientific community, and the diplomatic sphere.

🚀ELI’s leadership emphasised the importance of strengthening scientific and industrial cooperation across Europe, underlining the role of such partnerships in driving innovation and excellence.

These events represent an important step forward in deepening collaboration and supporting Montenegro’s path towards closer integration with the European research and innovation landscape.

23/04/2026

📢ELI User Meeting 2026 - the scientific programme is available!

Taking place on 24-26 June 2026 at the ELI Beamlines Facility in Dolní Břežany, the meeting will bring together the international user community for three days of scientific exchange, discussion, and collaboration.

🔬 What to expect?
The core sessions will highlight the full breadth of ELI’s capabilities, covering:
Key technologies and instrumentation
Mission-driven research areas
User services and access opportunities
Contributions from ELI experts and partners
👉 Explore the programme: https://indico.eli-laser.eu/event/234/page/511-programme

🤝 Satellite Workshops
Two dedicated satellite events will offer more focused discussions and networking opportunities within specific scientific and technical domains.
👉 Discover more: https://indico.eli-laser.eu/event/243/

Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with the ELI user community and be part of shaping future research directions.
👉 Register now: https://indico.eli-laser.eu/event/234/page/461-registration

22/04/2026

🚨 Last call to join the ELI User Community!

The 8th ELI User Call is about to close – this is your final opportunity to complete and submit your proposal. 🕐

💡 Why should you join?
✅ Access to cutting-edge instrumentation at the ELI ALPS and ELI Beamlines Facilities, as well as ELI NP
✅ Opportunities for cross-border collaboration and scientific exchange
✅ A platform for your research to make real impact

📌 Submitted proposals will be evaluated through an international peer-review process, with selected experiments moving forward to the next phase of implementation.

Become part of the ELI User Community and take your research to the next level at ELI’s world-class laser facilities.

▶ Submit your proposal before the deadline via the User Portal: https://up.eli-laser.eu/call/8th-call-for-users-5pk2js

We look forward to welcoming new users and innovative research ideas across the ELI infrastructure.

20/04/2026

📢 REMINDER: only a few days left to submit your proposal!
The 8th ELI - The Extreme Light Infrastructure User Call is approaching its deadline, so this is your final opportunity to apply for access to ELI’s world-leading research infrastructure.

⏳ Submission deadline: 22 April 2026, 12:00 (noon) CEST

💡 ELI empowers scientists to explore how ultra-intense lasers interact with matter, leading to high-impact discoveries in both fundamental and applied science.

If you’re still finalising your proposal or have questions about the submission process in the User Office System, don’t worry, support is within a reach.

🤝 Need help?
📩 Contact the ELI User Office at user-office@eli-laser.eu
🔬 For technical or feasibility questions, reach out directly to the Instrument Responsibles:
➡️ https://up.eli-laser.eu/contact
🔗 Submit your proposal via the User Portal before the deadline:
https://up.eli-laser.eu/call/8th-call-for-users-5pk2js

13/04/2026

💥 The Extreme Light Infrastructure was pleased to host Industry Liaison Officer (ILO) representatives from Lithuania, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, and Spain for the 2026 ILO meeting.

➡️ The programme featured a comprehensive introduction to doing business with ELI, including an overview of upcoming procurement opportunities. ILO representatives also shared updates on collaboration activities within their respective countries, providing valuable insights into national engagement and future potential. In the afternoon, participants explored ELI’s laboratories and engaged in B2B meetings with procurement colleagues and scientists, creating space for concrete discussions and new partnership opportunities.

The meeting marked another important step in strengthening international cooperation and fostering closer connections between ELI and its partner countries.

10/04/2026

📢 The ELI User Community is waiting for you!

ELI - The Extreme Light Infrastructure’s 7th User Call drew record participation from the global scientific research community, with 170 experiment proposals submitted by teams from 30 countries. In total, 680 scientists took part as Principal and Co-Investigators, reflecting both the scale of demand and the widening scope of research being carried out across ELI’s facilities.

🔬 The response shows that researchers are increasingly pursuing ambitious, interdisciplinary experiments that take full advantage of ELI’s integrated scientific offer across facilities and instruments. From energy-related studies and materials science to applications in health, digital technologies, and environmental research, the range of topics highlights the growing relevance and impact of our User Programme.

🗓 Don’t miss your chance – submissions are open until 22 April. Prepare your proposal and be part of the next wave of groundbreaking experiments at ELI. Visit the ELI User Portal and find out more: https://up.eli-laser.eu/

📖 Read more about the record participation and what it means for the future of high-intensity laser research:
https://www.eli-laser.eu/news/record-participation-in-eli-s-7th-user-call-highlights-growing-international-research-community/

ELI’s 7th User Call drew record participation from the global scientific research community, with 170 experiment proposals submitted by teams from 30 countries. In total, 680 scientists took part as Principal and Co-Investigators, reflecting both the scale of demand and the widening scope of resea...

07/04/2026

💥 Strengthening the Swiss-Czech Scientific Bridge: SwissELITE Officially Launched

The ceremonial opening of the SwissELITE Project was celebrated at ELI Beamlines. This strategic initiative marks a new era of collaboration between ELI - The Extreme Light Infrastructure and premier Swiss partners, including the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) and Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV).

Supported by the Ministerstvo školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy (MEYS) and the Swiss Contribution Office, SwissELITE is more than just a technical project - it is a vision of shared excellence. By combining world-class expertise in photon science and detector development, this initiative is accelerating the next generation of experimental tools for the global scientific community.

01/04/2026

📢 8th ELI User Call – Multipurpose station for Atomic, Molecular and Optical science and Coherent Diffractive Imaging (MAC) is open for your research!

The Multipurpose station for Atomic, Molecular and Optical science and Coherent Diffractive Imaging at the ELI Beamlines Facility is available to users within the 8th ELI User Call.

MAC is served by a HHG source of coherent vacuum-and extreme ultraviolet (VUV/XUV) laser pulses. It is designed for advanced research in atomic, molecular, and optical sciences. It allows scientists to study ultrafast processes and capture high-resolution images of tiny structures using specialized XUV light and state-of-the-art particle detectors.

🔗 Learn more about the technology here: https://bit.ly/4sKJsgH and get some interesting insights from the video with Eva Klimešová, a scientist working on the MAC end station at ELI Beamlines.

👉 More information about the 8th ELI User Call: https://up.eli-laser.eu/call/8th-call-for-users-5pk2js

31/03/2026

🎓 Registration is open for the ELI Summer School 2026!

Join us on 31 August - 4 September 2026 at the ELI ALPS Facility for the 11th edition of ELISS, a unique opportunity for students and early-career researchers to explore the science behind intense laser pulses and laser-driven particle and radiation sources.

The Summer School offers a dynamic programme combining lectures from leading scientists, guided laboratory tours, hands-on insights into experimental research, and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow students, speakers, and ELI researchers.

💡 Why join?
✅ High-level lectures from international experts
✅Guided tours at the ELI ALPS laboratories
✅Poster session and a poster competition with prizes
✅Networking with peers and scientists from around the world
✅Insights into career opportunities at ELI

📌 Early bird registration is available, so make sure to secure your place early!
👉 Register now: https://indico.eli-laser.eu/e/eliss2026