The need for SESAME has never been clearer. As the only synchrotron light source in the Middle East, the facility provides scientists from Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, Palestine, Türkiye, and beyond with access to world-class infrastructure for cutting-edge research. From medicine and materials science to renewable energy and cultural heritage, SESAME enables discoveries that strengthen both knowledge and international and regional capacity.
This dual role of science and cooperation has now been recognised at the highest European policy level. In its newly adopted European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures (COM (2025) 497 final), the European Commission stated that “This form of science diplomacy through research infrastructures is even more valuable where relations between partners are difficult in other fields, as the Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) synchrotron has shown.” By placing SESAME alongside Europe’s most advanced infrastructures, the Commission affirms SESAME’s strength as a trusted partner in both discovery and diplomacy.
This recognition comes as SESAME is working with European partners to advance the SUNSTONE Project (Grant Agreement No. 101177314), funded by the EU. Running from 2024 to 2027, the SUNSTONE Project strengthens SESAME’s role by expanding its user community across the Middle East and Africa, improving scientific services and training, and enhancing visibility and sustainability as an international research hub. Under the project, SESAME is enhancing its user-support infrastructure—from remote access and remote and in-person training to raising visibility among stakeholders—all aligned with its mission of science diplomacy and regional scientific excellence.
Rolf Heuer, President of the SESAME Council, welcomed the recognition and said, “This is a milestone for SESAME. To be singled out by the European Commission as a beacon of science diplomacy confirms what we have always believed—that science can bring people together where politics often fails.”
Built on a vision of excellence and collaboration, SESAME stands as a model of how international partnerships can thrive in challenging contexts. Its mission goes beyond providing state-of-the-art beamlines — it creates a space where researchers advance science together, sharing knowledge, training new generations, and opening new possibilities for innovation in the region.
Khaled Toukan, Director of SESAME, in his remarks added, “For SESAME, the remark is more than recognition; it is validation of our mission. Every experiment carried out here proves that knowledge transcends borders. We are honoured to see our efforts highlighted as an example of science serving both discovery and peace.”
Edward Mitchell, based at ESRF and the Project Lead for SUNSTONE, noted that “SUNSTONE is a clear investment in the future of SESAME and the region. By training new users, improving service quality, and opening doors for access, the project ensures that SESAME continues to lead in scientific discovery and deepens its role as a platform for collaboration and innovation across borders.”