The EU-funded “SUNSTONE” project is taking part in the 2025 Research & Technology Infrastructures (RTI) Summit, currently underway in Copenhagen. Bringing together European and international leaders, this Danish EU Presidency Event, is charting the course for next-generation research infrastructures and technology ecosystems.

Held under the theme “Societal Impact of Research Infrastructures – The Power of Technology Infrastructures and Innovation Ecosystems”, the summit gathers policymakers, scientists, and innovators from across Europe to explore how research infrastructures (RIs) can drive societal progress. Team SUNSTONE—Ed Mitchell (ESRF), Andrea Lausi (SESAME), Jessica Ahedor (SESAME) and Frank Lehner (DESY)—have been using the platform to strengthen networks and build meaningful relationships for SESAME within Europe’s interconnected RI landscape.

Throughout the sessions and exhibitions, visitors to the SESAME booth have expressed strong interest in collaboration and highlighted the importance of sustained investment in high-level RIs that transcend national boundaries.

The RTI Summit features over forty research and technology infrastructures from across Europe, enhancing SESAME’s presence with its leadership engaging in discussions on research collaboration, sustainability, and communication strategies for pan-regional science cooperation in the future.

Andrea Lausi, SESAME’s Scientific Director, emphasised the value of integration and interdisciplinarity: “Creating ecosystems is not only about linking individual facilities; it’s about enabling fluid interaction between disciplines, technologies, and end users. True innovation happens when knowledge flows freely across borders.”

Beyond technical excellence, the summit also spotlighted communication as a strategic tool for building awareness and policy support for RIs. Jessica Ahedor, SESAME’s Communications Officer, underscored this role while engaging participants at the booth: “Strategic communication is essential in creating visibility and trust for research infrastructures. When policymakers and the public see the tangible benefits of science — from clean energy to health innovations — they are more likely to invest and engage.”

Sessions such as “Innovation Ecosystems and the Role of Technology Infrastructures” and “The Impact of RTIs on Industry and Society” echoed this message, calling for stronger integration between RIs, industry and the public sector.

Frank Lehner (DESY) added that SESAME, through SUNSTONE, is positioning itself as a catalyst for visibility and interconnectedness within the RI ecosystem—one that balances technical excellence with societal relevance and communication impact.

“From policy alignment to storytelling, the message from Copenhagen is clear,” he noted. “Research infrastructures are no longer behind-the-scenes assets but vital engines of Europe’s innovation, diplomacy, and sustainable future.”