NEXT Industry Connect 2026
From Nonlinear EUV and X-ray Research to Industrial Innovation
25 September 2026 | Online
The NEXT COST Action is pleased to invite companies and researchers to an online round table dedicated to strengthening collaboration between industry and the scientific community working in nonlinear EUV and X-ray technologies.
The event will bring together researchers from the NEXT network and companies active in areas including FEL/XFEL technologies, ultrafast and high-power lasers, high-harmonic generation (HHG), EUV and X-ray optics, sensors and detectors, scientific instrumentation, electronics, data acquisition and related enabling technologies.
The meeting will provide a forum to exchange knowledge, discuss emerging technological requirements and identify concrete opportunities for collaboration. Particular attention will be given to joint research and development, technology development, testing and validation, and future European research and innovation projects.
Industry Technology & Collaboration Pitches
Participating companies will be invited to give a brief 3–5-minute presentation, using one or two slides, introducing:
- their main technologies and areas of expertise;
- current or emerging R&D activities;
- technological challenges that could benefit from interaction with the research community;
- areas of interest for research, technology-development or European-project collaborations.
The emphasis will be on interaction and matchmaking rather than commercial presentations, with the objective of identifying areas of mutual interest between industry and NEXT researchers.
Practical information
Date: 25 September 2026
Time: 9:00 – 13:00
Format: Online
Participation: Free of charge, registration required
Registration deadline: 23 September 2026
Register here: https://forms.gle/4rBNFVQLqtF5tdxg6
Further information, including the programme and connection details, will be provided to registered participants.
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NEXT Industry Connect 2026: Outcomes
The first NEXT Industry Connect brought together the NEXT scientific community and representatives from Thales, RoentDek, Light Conversion, Class 5 Photonics and Suna Precision to explore opportunities for collaboration between nonlinear EUV/X-ray research and industry.
The discussion covered a broad range of topics, including UV/X-ray optics and metrology, multi-particle detectors, HHG sources, ultrafast laser systems, and technologies for synchrotrons and free-electron lasers. Industry partners shared current technological challenges and needs, opening the discussion on how expertise within the NEXT community could contribute to future developments.
From discussion to collaboration
Several concrete opportunities emerged from the meeting. NEXT Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs), internships and MSCA industry placements can facilitate exchanges between researchers and companies, while potential collaborations within future Horizon Europe projects were also discussed.
Recruitment was another important topic, with several companies expressing interest in connecting with highly trained researchers in the NEXT community.
The first NEXT Industry Connect provided a valuable starting point for stronger and more concrete collaboration between research and industry — and we look forward to seeing these discussions develop into new activities and partnerships.
This event is an activity of NEXT- C.A. 22148, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation. https://www.cost.eu/. COST is supported by the European Union.
