Synchrotron ALBA opens In-CAEM to companies: access to advanced microscopy and nanotechnology

Key data

Spanish companies in advanced materials, energy and nanotechnology have had since September 2026 a new gateway to first-class European scientific infrastructure: the In-CAEM platform, installed at Synchrotron ALBA in Cerdanyola del Vallès. The agreement published in the BOE on September 25, 2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-19935) formalizes the collaboration between four institutions to operate this infrastructure and open it to external users, both from the scientific community and from the innovative industrial sector.

The subproject that built and equipped In-CAEM concluded in December 2025 with Recovery Plan financing. Now begins the phase of real exploitation, with a clear legal framework that regulates joint management between the CELLS Consortium, CSIC, ICN2 and IFAE.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement regulates the administrative and technical aspects of the joint operation of In-CAEM. It does not create fees or impose obligations on private companies, but it does establish the framework that allows them to access the facilities as external users.

The In-CAEM infrastructure is composed of the following elements:

The agreement directs operation toward three types of use: own research of the signatory institutions, external users from the scientific community and innovative industrial users. The latter group is of greatest relevance for private companies.

Publication in the BOE responds to the obligation established in article 48.8 of Law 40/2015 on the Legal Regime of the Public Sector, which requires publicizing agreements entered into by public sector entities.

Economic and operational impact

For companies, the impact is not one of direct cost derived from the regulation, but of opportunity to access technological capabilities that would otherwise require investments of several million euros in own equipment.

• Reduction of R&D costs: access to (S)TEM microscopy, SPM in ultrahigh vacuum and environmental photon-SPM allows characterization of materials at the nanometric scale without the need for own infrastructure.
• Competitive advantage in tenders and European projects: having results obtained in reference facilities such as Synchrotron ALBA strengthens technical credibility with funders and clients.
• Access to advanced scientific data: the IFAE-PIC data infrastructure facilitates the processing and analysis of large volumes of experimental data, relevant for companies with materials or energy projects.
• Synergies with the public ecosystem: direct collaboration with CSIC, ICN2 and IFAE opens the door to joint technology transfer projects.

The fact that the infrastructure was financed with Recovery Plan funds means that construction and equipment costs have already been amortized publicly, which in principle allows access to be offered at prices competitive with the private market.

Who does it affect?

• Advanced materials companies that need nanometric characterization of their products or processes.
• Energy sector companies working on new materials for batteries, fuel cells, photovoltaics or storage.
• Nanotechnology and semiconductor companies that require surface, interface or atomic-scale structure analysis.
• Technology centers and private laboratories that provide analysis services to third parties and want to expand their capabilities portfolio.
• Deeptech startups in product validation phase that need characterization data for investors or regulators.
• R&D departments of large industrial companies (chemical, pharmaceutical, automotive, aerospace) with materials innovation projects.
• Public scientific institutions (universities, OPIs) that want to access as external users to capabilities complementary to their own.

Practical example

A Catalan company manufacturing electrodes for next-generation batteries needs to characterize the microstructure of its active materials at the nanometric scale to optimize charge cycle performance. Until now, it depended on external laboratories in Germany or France with waiting times of several months and high costs.

With the stable operation of In-CAEM at Synchrotron ALBA, this company can request access time as an innovative industrial user to the (S)TEM microscopy laboratory, obtain atomic-resolution images of its materials and combine them with data from the existing Synchrotron beamlines for complementary analysis. The IFAE-PIC data infrastructure also facilitates processing of the large volumes of data generated.

The result: reduction of analysis times, access to European reference capabilities and the possibility of co-publishing results with CSIC or ICN2, which strengthens the company's position in Horizon Europe calls.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if your company needs nanometric characterization capabilities: evaluate whether your R&D projects require (S)TEM microscopy, SPM in ultrahigh vacuum or environmental photon-SPM. If so, In-CAEM is a direct option in Spain.
2. Contact Synchrotron ALBA to request access as an industrial user: the agreement expressly establishes the figure of the innovative industrial user. The entry point is CELLS itself, manager of the facilities in Cerdanyola del Vallès.
3. Explore synergies with the signatory institutions: CSIC, ICN2 and IFAE have technology transfer and collaboration programs with companies. A collaboration agreement with one of these institutions can facilitate priority access to the infrastructure.
4. Include access to In-CAEM in your European project planning: if your company participates in Horizon Europe or CDTI calls, the use of singular scientific infrastructures such as Synchrotron ALBA strengthens the technical soundness of proposals.
5. Consult current access conditions and fees: the agreement regulates joint operation, but specific access conditions for industrial users (fees, access times, procedures) are managed through CELLS. Request updated information directly.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source (BOE-A-2026-19935)

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-19935