SESAME’s Upgrading Network for Scientific user Training and Outreach into the Next Era

Project Information

SUNSTONE

Grant agreement ID: 101177314

DOI

10.3030/101177314

EC signature date 3 June 2024

Start date 1 June 2024

End date 30 November 2027

Funded under

• Research infrastructures

Total cost

€ 1 500 000,00

EU contribution

€ 1 500 000,00

Coordinated by

EUROPEAN SYNCHROTRON RADIATION FACILITY
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SUNSTONE (SESAME’s Upgrading Network for Scientific user Training and Outreach into the Next Era)

Reporting period: 2024-06-01 to 2026-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

SUNSTONE is dedicated to reinforcing the SESAME (Synchrotron light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East) facility particularly its sustainability, capacity building, international collaboration, outreach and inclusivity.
1. Strategic Enhancement of SESAME’s Capabilities: The SUNSTONE project aims to significantly enhance SESAME’s operational capacities, ensuring its sustainability and strengthening its role as an international research infrastructure. The project focuses on three main activity pillars: fostering SESAME’s sustainability, establishing SESAME as a training centre, and strengthening SESAME user services.
2. Focus on Training and Capacity Building: SESAME’s success depends heavily on a well-trained and proficient user community. SUNSTONE addresses this by implementing comprehensive training programs, including hands-on workshops, remote training, and collaborations with experienced scientists from European partners. This aims to increase regional scientific capacity and expertise in synchrotron techniques.
3. Strengthening International Collaborations: The project emphasises the importance of international collaborations, particularly with European light sources and African research institutions. By fostering these partnerships, SUNSTONE aims to enhance SESAME’s scientific output and integrate it more deeply into the global research community.
4. Promotional and Outreach Activities: To increase visibility and membership, SUNSTONE includes robust outreach and promotional strategies. These activities are designed to raise awareness of SESAME’s capabilities and impact, targeting potential new members, stakeholders and the broader scientific community
5. Inclusive and Sustainable Development: SUNSTONE is committed to inclusivity and sustainability, ensuring diverse participation in project activities and promoting the use of SESAME’s facilities across different regions. The project also focuses on open science practices and the sustainable growth of SESAME as a prominent scientific hub.
SUNSTONE is driven by seven European facilities, ALBA-CELLS, CYI, DESY, ELETTRA, ESRF, INFN and SOLEIL, with SESAME itself. PSI joins the SUNSTONE consortium as an Associate. The eight members of SESSAME are Cyprus, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, Palestine and Turkey.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the first reporting period, SUNSTONE strengthened SESAME’s scientific capabilities, staff expertise and services for researchers. An assessment of user and beamline needs identified gaps in synchrotron fundamentals, experiment design, sample preparation, data analysis and proposal writing. In response, four online courses covered synchrotron radiation, X-ray tomography for cultural heritage, soft X-rays for environmental science and X-ray absorption spectroscopy under operating conditions. The courses attracted 158 active participants from 36 countries. A further 31 researchers from 15 countries were selected for advanced thematic and practical training, which was adapted for online delivery when regional conditions prevented travel.
SESAME’s User Office and IT teams received practical and remote training from ELETTRA to improve proposal management, user access systems and future remote beamline access. Scientific support was reinforced by recruiting a postdoctoral researcher for the HESEB X-ray spectroscopy beamline, who is contributing to user services and a scientific publication. European specialists also trained infrared beamline staff, including testing and optimising a new imaging detector and improving experimental alignment and user support.
A competitive call attracted 33 proposals for joint technical and scientific projects with SESAME users. The selected project on high-pressure studies of specialty photonic materials began in October 2025 with support from SUNSTONE and the IAEA. SUNSTONE also contributed to establishing the LEAPS–SESAME Task Force, which coordinates longer-term scientific and technical assistance from European photon facilities.
These actions have broadened access to specialist training, improved scientific support for users, strengthened staff independence and created new routes for beamline development and international research collaboration.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

SUNSTONE’s results are expected to make SESAME easier to use, strengthen the quality of experiments and expand the community able to benefit from synchrotron science. Training has already reached 158 active participants from 36 countries, with 31 researchers selected for advanced thematic and practical activities. This can improve researcher ability to prepare competitive proposals, conduct experiments and analyse data independently, whilst building expertise across the Middle East and Africa.

Support for SESAME’s User Office, IT systems and beamline staff is improving proposal management, user assistance and the basis for remote access. The recruitment of a postdoctoral scientist for the HESEB X-ray spectroscopy beamline, together with visits by European specialists, has increased scientific support and helped optimise infrared imaging equipment. A competitive call attracted 33 proposals and launched a joint project on high-pressure photonic materials, demonstrating strong demand for new experimental services. The LEAPS–SESAME Task Force also provides a route for continued technical assistance and cooperation beyond SUNSTONE.

Further uptake will depend on completing the hands-on and twinning stages of the training programme, retaining skilled scientific and technical staff, continuing expert exchanges and mentoring, and securing resources for beamline upgrades, user access and targeted research projects. Reliable remote-access and user-management systems, sustained international partnerships and flexible arrangements when travel is disrupted will also be important.

Overall, the project is creating a more capable user community, stronger scientific services, new research opportunities and a lasting European–Middle Eastern–African support network around SESAME.