SETN 2026: Three Days of Neutron Science and Collaboration in Bilbao

From 13 to 15 July, Bilbao hosted the 12th International Meeting of the Spanish Society for Neutron Techniques (SETN 2026). The event brought together around one hundred national and international experts to present and discuss the latest advances in neutron science, sources and instrumentation.

Organised by BCMaterials and the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of the Basque Country (EHU), the conference once again highlighted the important role of neutron techniques in addressing today’s scientific and technological challenges.

The opening ceremony, attended by representatives of the organising institutions and the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, marked the beginning of an intensive scientific programme featuring almost 50 oral presentations and around 20 posters.

Advances in neutron techniques and applications

The sessions showcased the wide range of fields in which neutron techniques can be used to study the structure, dynamics and properties of materials at the atomic scale.

The programme featured research on batteries and energy storage, magnetic and quantum materials, polymers, hydrogels, biomaterials, sensors, functional alloys and biological systems. Contributions addressing applications in cultural heritage and healthcare were also presented.

SETN 2026 featured an outstanding line-up of plenary and keynote speakers: Sarah Rogers, from the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source; Gwenaëlle Rousse, from Sorbonne University; Arantxa Arbe, from CFM-MPC; Andreas Michels, from the University of Luxembourg; Mónica Jiménez and Lukas Helfen, from the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL); José Manuel Martín García, from the Blas Cabrera Institute of Physical Chemistry; J. Alberto Rodríguez-Velamazán, from ILL; and Viktor Petrenko, from BCMaterials.

Neutron techniques, sources and instruments

In addition to the scientific presentations, the programme included dedicated sessions exploring the capabilities of major neutron facilities such as ISIS in the United Kingdom and ILL in France.

Participants also learned about future facilities such as Argitu, an ESS Bilbao project that aims to develop a high-current accelerator-driven neutron source, known as a HiCANS. The programme also provided an opportunity to present several instruments of particular relevance to the Spanish neutron science community.

The overall assessment of SETN 2026 was highly positive. The event strengthened collaboration between research groups, universities and major scientific facilities, while also reinforcing the Basque Country’s position within the national and international neutron science community.

BCMaterials would like to extend its special thanks to the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of the Basque Country (EHU) for its collaboration in organising the event, as well as to the conference sponsors: ESS Bilbao, ILL and AVS.