The third annual Tescan Collaboration Network (TCN) Meeting took place on October 6–7, 2025, at our strategic partner Ernst Ruska Center (ER-C) in Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany, with the kind support of Professor Rafal Dunin-Borkowski, Director of the ER-C.
The meeting brought together 51 participants from 16 institutions and 12 countries, including several from overseas, to exchange experiences, discuss research results, and explore new ideas for collaboration.
Over two days, participants attended 16 presentations and 6 hands-on sessions led by Tescan and ER-C users. The face-to-face discussions proved especially valuable for sharing practical experience, addressing technical challenges, and developing new ideas. The open and constructive atmosphere encouraged future collaborations, including interdisciplinary projects that have already become one of the key strengths of the TCN.
Several attendees presented outcomes of collaborations initiated through the TCN platform, demonstrating the scientific and practical benefits that such cooperation can bring. The meeting also highlighted successful partnerships among TCN members, including joint projects between Johannes Kepler University Linz and the University of Leeds, as well as between the University of Silesia and the Technical University of Graz. These examples showed how shared expertise and direct dialogue accelerate problem-solving, strengthen technical know-how, and inspire new experimental approaches across institutions and disciplines.
A tour of the ER-C laboratories provided an opportunity to see some of the most advanced microscopy facilities in the world. We sincerely thank Professor Rafal Dunin-Borkowski, Dr. Peng-Han Lu, Dr. Shibabrata Basak, Maria Goecking, and the entire ER-C team for their warm hospitality and excellent organization.
The 2025 TCN Meeting once again confirmed that the Tescan Collaboration Network is much more than a user group. It is a community of scientists and engineers connected by curiosity, expertise, and the shared ambition to advance microscopy and materials research through open collaboration.