ALL-MICRO Project Reaches Its Official Conclusion

August marked the successful conclusion of the ALL-MICRO project, which officially ended on 19 August 2026 after more than two years of cross-border collaboration in advanced microscopy and innovation. During this period, partners from Italy and Slovenia strengthened scientific cooperation, improved access to microscopy infrastructures, supported pilot projects with industry, and established a sustainable network of expertise across the programme area.

As the project enters its final closure phase, partners are focused on completing the remaining administrative and reporting activities required by the Interreg Italy-Slovenia Programme.

Board of Experts Reviews Project Closure Activities

On 7 August, the ALL-MICRO Board of Experts met online to review key aspects of project closure and long-term sustainability. The Board discussed the final equipment inventory and agreed that all eligible project-funded equipment, including items included in upgrade wishlists, should be incorporated into the final documentation. The signing procedure for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will support continued cooperation among partners after the project's end, was also reviewed.

The meeting further highlighted the importance of completing all project documentation by the end of September, with financial reporting scheduled for October.

Final Reporting Activities Underway

The Board was informed that the final Management Board meeting will take place in September, closer to the deadline for submitting partner reports, in order to verify that all documentation required for project closure is complete and ready for submission.

To facilitate the reporting process, Thalhammer is preparing the standard reporting template for partners and coordinating the preparation of the two final output documents required by the Programme. At the same time, the remaining pilot project reports completed up to mid-August are being collected and reviewed. Once finalized, these reports will be published on the ALL-MICRO portal, ensuring that the knowledge and experience generated through the project remain accessible to future users of the network.

Looking Ahead

Although ALL-MICRO has officially come to an end, the network established through the project will continue its activities. Over the past two years, partners have built a strong and effective cross-border collaboration that will remain active through regular meetings, expected to be held on a biannual basis.

A key objective of the network will continue to be supporting researchers and companies by directing analytical requests to the microscopy centre best suited to their specific needs and expertise. At the same time, the network's visibility is steadily expanding beyond the original programme area. Recent enquiries and pilot requests have already been received from organisations in Croatia, Austria and Hungary, demonstrating growing interest in the services and know-how available within ALL-MICRO. Educational activities have also attracted participants from neighbouring countries, including two students from Croatia who took part in the Optical Microscopy School.

Building on these achievements, the partners aim to further broaden the network's reach, strengthen new collaborations, and continue promoting access to high-quality microscopy infrastructures and expertise across the wider region.