On 14 April 2026, the Big Science and NOMATEN Innovation Days 2026 took place at the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) in Poland, bringing together 61 participants from international research organisations and industry. The event provided a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, showcasing innovative technologies and fostering collaboration opportunities between science and business.
Strengthening Industry – Big Science Collaboration
The event highlighted the growing importance of cooperation between industry and large-scale research infrastructures. Participants explored concrete business opportunities, funding mechanisms, and innovation procurement approaches that support the development of advanced technologies.
A key focus was placed on collaboration with Fusion for Energy (F4E). Mehdi Daval presented procurement opportunities and the increasing demand for cutting-edge components and solutions. Further insights were provided by Natalia Ciąglewicz-Stępień and Szymon Wesołowski, who introduced funding schemes and the implementation of R&D projects, including the pre-commercial procurement model used within the Technology Development Programme.
Pre-commercial procurement was presented as a strategic tool to support innovation before market deployment. The speakers outlined its phased structure (from feasibility studies to prototyping), and highlighted its advantages, such as simplified procedures, pre-financing options, and the retention of intellectual property rights by contractors.
Opportunities Across Big Science Organisations
The programme also featured contributions from major European Big Science organisations:
- European Space Agency Business Incubation Centres (ESA BIC), presented by Michał Chwieduk, showcasing support for innovative space-related companies
- European Southern Observatory (ESO), represented by Alain Delorme
- CERN, represented by Adam Horridge
These sessions provided practical insights into procurement processes and cooperation frameworks, helping companies better understand how to engage with large research infrastructures.
The upcoming Big Science Business Forum 2026 (BSBF 2026) was also introduced as a key platform connecting industry with research organisations across Europe.
Showcasing NOMATEN and Advanced Materials Research
An important part of the event focused on the activities of the NOMATEN Centre of Excellence at NCBJ. Łukasz Kurpaska presented advanced capabilities in material characterisation and testing, particularly for applications in extreme environments relevant to the nuclear sector.
Further perspectives were shared by:
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, focusing on industrial cooperation in materials research
- French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, presenting developments in new energy technologies and solutions to reduce reliance on critical raw materials
Industry Case Studies and Start-up Innovation
The event concluded with practical case studies demonstrating successful collaboration between industry and Big Science organisations. Representatives from Altrad Babcock Europe S.A. and Amazemet shared their experiences in delivering projects for research infrastructures.
In addition, start-ups supported by ESA BIC – AstroteqAI and Astrolayers – presented their innovation journeys, offering valuable insights into how emerging companies can engage with the Big Science ecosystem.
Building Future Partnerships and Linking to INPROCAP
Beyond presentations, the event provided space for direct networking and bilateral discussions. These interactions enabled participants to explore potential collaborations, exchange ideas, and identify future business opportunities.
According to the organisers, the event also demonstrated the strong interest from industry in engaging with research infrastructures and highlighted the role of initiatives like NOMATEN in bridging the gap between laboratory research and market applications. It confirmed the importance of structured dialogue and matchmaking formats in unlocking collaboration potential.
The topics addressed during the event, particularly innovation procurement, pre-commercial procurement, and collaboration with Big Science organisations, closely align with the objectives of the INPROCAP project. By strengthening connections between industry and research infrastructures, such initiatives contribute to building capacity for innovation procurement and support the uptake of advanced technologies across the European Big Science ecosystem.
The Big Science and NOMATEN Innovation Days 2026 once again demonstrated the value of bringing together research institutions and industry. By facilitating dialogue and showcasing concrete opportunities, the event contributed to strengthening innovation ecosystems and supporting the development of advanced technologies across Europe.
