INL and SPIN-LAB Join Forces in Nanotech Research

On 3rd July 2025, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) formalised an ongoing collaboration with the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, specifically with the SPIN-LAB Centre for Microscopic Research on Matter (CMBM SPIN-LAB).

The SPIN-LAB Centre is an interdepartmental organisational unit within the University of Silesia, equipped with laboratories tailored to the requirements of advanced electron and atomic force microscopy. This partnership marks a significant step towards fostering collaboration in the fields of materials science and nanotechnology, with both INL and SPIN-LAB committed to advancing research, innovation, and scientific exchange.

Whilst participating in the 2025 Electron Microscopy Course, Dr Marcin Libera, Director of SPIN-LAB, met with Professor Ado Jório de Vasconcelos, INL Deputy Director-General; Dr Enrique Carbó-Argibay, Head of the Electron Microscopy and X-Rays Facility at INL; and Dr Oleksandr Bondarchuk, Facility Lead at the Electron Microscopy and X-Rays Facility and affiliated researcher at SPIN-LAB.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr Enrique Carbó noted: “We are excited to announce a new collaboration agreement between the University of Silesia in Katowice and INL. This partnership will strengthen ties between both institutions by promoting the exchange of scientific and technical knowledge in materials science and nanotechnology. Together, we aim to boost capabilities through joint participation in publicly funded projects, staff and student exchanges, and bilateral scientific workshops.”

Dr Bondarchuk added: “The collaboration agreement between the University of Silesia and INL aims to establish a scientific and educational bridge between the Eastern and Western regions of the European Union. Its goal is to attract young people and students from across Europe to engage in research and innovation, and to facilitate academic exchange that enables scientists to develop and participate in joint research projects.”

This collaboration not only reinforces the strategic cooperation between the two leading research institutions but also underscores their shared commitment to fostering a dynamic European research ecosystem that promotes scientific excellence and cross-border collaboration.

Text by Carolina Baptista, International Relations and Internal Affairs Communication Officer, Photograph by Patrícia Barroso, Communication, Conferences & Marketing Officer