ELI - The Extreme Light Infrastructure

08/09/2026

🚀 Ready to take your experiment to ELI?

The ELI User Programme gives researchers from around the world access to advanced laser facilities, experimental capabilities and scientific expertise - supporting both fundamental and applied research across a growing range of fields.

The previous, 8th User Call demonstrated the strong and diverse interest in ELI’s capabilities:
📊 146 proposals submitted
👩‍🔬 134 Principal Investigators
🌍 More than 411 co-proposers from the international research community

The proposed research covered areas including materials and surface science, particle acceleration, life sciences, plasma physics, relativistic interactions and AMO physics, with applications ranging from health and food science to energy, digital technologies, manufacturing, environmental research and cultural heritage.

To get more insight, read our summary article 👉 https://www.eli-laser.eu/news/eli-s-8th-user-call-shows-steady-demand/

Now, your research could be next.

🚀 The 9th ELI User Call opens on 15 September 2026, offering a new opportunity to propose experiments at ELI: https://up.eli-laser.eu/news/pre-announcement-eli-to-launch-9th-user-call-on-15-september-aizbXj

📅 Save the date and stay tuned for the full Call announcement.

04/09/2026

⚡ Five days with close to 120 participants from 25 countries. New research ideas. New connections.

👋 The ELI Summer School 2026 came to a close today at the ELI ALPS Laser Research Institute in Szeged.

Over the past week, young scientists and early-career researchers explored the latest developments in intense laser science, attosecond physics, plasma physics, quantum technologies, nuclear photonics and more – while presenting their own research, visiting laboratories and gaining hands-on experience.

But ELISS is about more than lectures. It is about bringing the next generation of researchers together, creating connections and giving them a closer look at the science and people behind ELI.

Find out more from our summary article: https://www.eli-laser.eu/news/eliss-2026-connects-the-next-generation-of-laser-scientists/

👏 Thank you to all participants, speakers, organisers, and colleagues who made possible!

We hope to see many of you again at ELI – as students, researchers, users and future collaborators.

03/09/2026

⚙️ Learning by doing – Hands-on activities at the ELI Summer School

Throughout the week, hashtag participants have the opportunity to go beyond the lecture hall and get hands-on with the tools, techniques and methods used in cutting-edge laser science.

🔬⚡From analysing experimental detector data and aligning laser optics to exploring wavefront metrology, high-harmonic generation, quantum simulations, electron microscopy, laser-induced damage measurements and radiobiology, the practical sessions cover a wide range of topics and approaches.

Participants can choose from several hands-on activities during the week, giving them the chance to experiment, analyse, troubleshoot and explore alongside ELI researchers.

Science is not just about learning how things work – sometimes, you have to get your hands on it.

02/09/2026

⚡An evening of research, ideas and connections at

Yesterday evening, Summer School participants took centre stage during the poster session, presenting their research and exchanging ideas with fellow early-career researchers and experts from across the scientific community. The session also featured the ELISS poster competition, recognising three outstanding student posters – and awards will be handed out at the social dinner tonight.

Today, the programme moves from posters to the infrastructure behind the science.

🔬This afternoon, participants will get a closer look at the science and technology behind ELI during laboratory tours, exploring the facilities and experimental environment supporting cutting-edge laser research.

Then, the group will enjoy a nice dinner and add new memories to this eventful week.

Stay tuned for more from !

31/08/2026

⚡ ELI Summer School 2026 is officially underway!

A week of intense science, discussion, and hands-on learning starts today at the ELI ALPS Laser Research Institute in Szeged.

Over the next five days, young scientists and early-career researchers will explore topics ranging from attosecond and ultrafast science to plasma physics, quantum technologies, nuclear photonics and advanced laser sources – alongside laboratory visits, hands-on activities, poster presentations and networking opportunities.

🎤 A special highlight of the programme is an online keynote lecture by Prof. Anne L’Huillier, 2023 Nobel Prize laureate in Physics, on the fundamentals of attosecond science through high-order harmonic generation in gases.

Stay tuned throughout the week as we share more highlights from hashtag !

27/08/2026

📢 ELI announces leadership transition

After eight years as Director General of ELI ERIC, Allen Weeks will step down at the end of September 2026. During his tenure, ELI established a successful User Programme and integrated its facilities under a unified management and governance structure.

As ELI enters its next phase of growth, Florian Gliksohn, ELI’s current Executive Director, has been appointed Interim Director General while the recruitment process for a new Director General is underway.

🔬 ELI’s scientific community continues to grow rapidly: across eight User Calls, more than 2,000 researchers from 43 countries have submitted 879 experimental proposals, with 560 accepted for implementation.

🌍 With 10 Member and Observer countries and growing international engagement, ELI is well positioned for its next phase.

The ELI team thanks Allen for his leadership and contribution to building and operating this world-leading research infrastructure and wishes him every success in his next role.

Find out more 👉 https://www.eli-laser.eu/news/eli-general-assembly-announces-leadership-transition/

17/08/2026

🔬 The 9th ELI User Call opens on 15 September 2026!

Researchers from around the world will once again have the opportunity to apply for access to the cutting-edge experimental capabilities of ELI - The Extreme Light Infrastructure.

📅 Call opens: 15 September 2026
⏳Proposal deadline: 20 October 2026
🧪 Experimental period: May–October 2027

If you are considering applying, now is the time to start preparing:
👉 Create your ELI User Registry account in advance to access the User Office System and submit your proposal.
👉 Contact the relevant instrument scientists early to discuss the feasibility of your experiment, technical requirements, and the available capabilities.

The 9th Call will continue to expand opportunities for researchers to explore ELI’s unique capabilities across a growing range of scientific and application areas 👉 https://up.eli-laser.eu/news/pre-announcement-eli-to-launch-9th-user-call-on-15-september-aizbXj

📩 Questions about the User Programme? Visit the ELI User Portal at https://up.eli-laser.eu/ and contact the ELI User Office at user-office[@]eli-laser.eu.

Stay tuned for the full Call announcement and available experimental opportunities on 15 September!

10/08/2026

⏰ Today is your last chance to register for the ELI Summer School 2026!

Are you a student or early-career researcher interested in high-power lasers, ultrafast science and the latest developments in photonics? Join us at the ELI ALPS Laser Research Institute in Szeged, Hungary, from 31 August - 4 September for a week of lectures, hands-on activities, facility tours, networking and cutting-edge science.

📅 Registration deadline: TODAY, 10 August (midnight)!

The programme covers:
⚡ Attosecond & ultrafast science
🔬 High-power lasers & advanced light sources
🌌 Plasma physics, quantum technologies & nuclear photonics
🎤 A keynote lecture by 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics laureate Anne L’Huillier (online)

You’ll also have the opportunity to present your own work in the poster session, connect with leading researchers and ELI scientists, and experience one of the world’s most advanced laser research facilities.

🔗 Register and find the full programme: https://indico.eli-laser.eu/event/240/

The 11th edition of the ELI Summer School (ELISS) series aims to provide young scientists with a comprehensive overview of the generation and application of intense laser pulses and laser-driven particle and radiation sources. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in dynamic poster s...

15/07/2026

🚀ELI has just launched a new user-assisted commissioning call for the L4f P3 beamline at the ELI Beamlines Facility, inviting researchers in laser-plasma physics and high-intensity laser interactions to help shape the commissioning of this cutting-edge experimental platform.

💡The L4f P3 beamline is being developed towards 10 PW capability, opening new opportunities for experiments at the frontier of laser-plasma physics. As part of this commissioning campaign, ELI welcomes proposals that can enhance the experimental setup through:
🔹 Advanced laser metrology
🔹 Tailor-made gas nozzles
🔹 Additional diagnostics
🔹 Computational methods for data processing

The selected contributions will become part of a collaborative user-assisted commissioning experiment planned for September-October 2026.

📅 Proposal deadline: 11 August 2026, 12:00 CEST

Step into the laboratory via the virtual walkthrough of the experimental hall which houses the L4f P3 beamline: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=zuCegjZYkSU

👉 Read the full commissioning call and submit your proposal through the ELI User Portal: https://up.eli-laser.eu/call/call-for-user-assisted-commissioning-of-the-l4f-p3-9BVucM

14/07/2026

🚀 Great news for Europe's deep-tech innovation ecosystem!
ELI - The Extreme Light Infrastructure has been awarded a €5 million Horizon Europe project to coordinate ELIgnite – a new initiative designed to accelerate the journey from breakthrough science to market-ready innovation.

ELIgnite will connect startups, SMEs and industrial innovators with Europe's world-leading laser and photonics infrastructures, making cutting-edge research facilities more accessible than ever before.

💡 What makes ELIgnite unique?
✅ €5 million in Horizon Europe funding
✅ More than 60% of the budget dedicated to cascade funding for companies
✅ Grants of up to €500,000 for breakthrough technologies
✅ Access to world-class laser facilities, scientific expertise and tailored business support
✅ A fast-track approach to commercialising deep-tech innovation

From clean energy and advanced manufacturing to healthcare, semiconductors and resilient infrastructure, ELIgnite will help transform pioneering ideas into real-world solutions.

ELI is excited to lead this outstanding European consortium and looks forward to welcoming the first innovators when the project launches in September 2026, with the first open calls expected in early 2027.

Find out more 👉 https://www.eli-laser.eu/news/eli-led-consortium-awarded-5-million-project-elignite-to-accelerate-deep-tech-innovation/