Abstract

During the last decade ALBA, the national synchrotron light source in the outskirts of Barcelona, has become an important pillar of Spanish and European research, providing cutting edge instrumentation to more than 6000 academic and industrial users. With its ten operational experimental lines of light, while four more are in progress, and with the creation, in cooperation with other institutions, of an electronic microscopy centre, it is an essential tool for addressing society's most pressing challenges. Its light is used to analyse the properties of the matter, in countless fields, from understanding the mechanisms of diseases to helping the development of drugs and vaccines, from catalytic research to the development of materials for the production and storage of energy, from environmental research to communication technologies. Its industrial program directly impacts on the country's economic growth, offering innovation capabilities to a variety of companies.

ALBA plays an important role in the scientific and technological training of young generations, and in the education of society on the need to enhance the country's research capacities.

ALBA is preparing the leap to the 4th generation, ALBA II, whose project is at its beginnings and whose design and future construction are carried out in parallel with the full operation of the current infrastructure. ALBA II will be operational from 2030 onwards and will continue to provide answers to the growing ecological, energy, health and economic challenges of the 21st century.