Organised by Telstar, Bruker Nano Surfaces & Metrology .

The Institute of Molecular Science (ICMol), a centre of excellence of the University of Valencia, hosted the SPM BRUKER Iberian Users Meeting on 20–21 November 2025, bringing together the Iberian community of AFM, BioAFM and Nanoindenter users. The event was jointly organised by Telstar, Bruker Nano Surfaces and ICMol.

The objective of the meeting was to strengthen collaboration among scanning probe microscopy (SPM) users across the Iberian Peninsula, promote the exchange of knowledge on advanced applications, and present the latest technological developments in the field. Over the course of the two-day programme, key topics were addressed, including nanoelectrical and nanomechanical measurements, high-resolution imaging, solid–liquid interface characterisation, advanced AFM modes, AI-guided approaches, and AFM correlation techniques with FTIR and advanced optical methods.

Institutional opening by ICMol

The official opening of the event was delivered by Eugenio Coronado, Director of ICMol, who presented the Institute of Molecular Science and its role as an international reference in molecular science and advanced characterisation. His remarks highlighted the institute’s commitment to interdisciplinary research and excellence in training involving state-of-the-art microscopy techniques.

Scientific contributions from ICMol

The programme also featured two significant scientific contributions by researchers from ICMol.

Alicia Forment delivered the talk “SPM facilities and research at ICMoL”, offering a detailed overview of the institute’s microscopy infrastructure and the research areas that rely on SPM techniques for the study of molecular materials and systems.

Ramón Torres presented “Revealing Nanoscale Piezoelectricity in Molecular Materials Using Local PFM”, focusing on the use of piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) to uncover functional properties at the molecular scale—an area in which ICMol is developing notable scientific advances.

A meeting with leading experts

In addition to the ICMol contributions, the event brought together specialists from IBEC (University of Barcelona), IMDEA Nanociencia, various CSIC institutes and the University of Paris-Saclay. The programme combined lectures and hands-on workshops using state-of-the-art equipment—MultiMode 8-HR, Dimension Icon, Nexus, UltraSpeed3 AFM, CellWizard Stage and the TS77 nanoindenter—which allowed participants to explore and test advanced experimental applications.

The meeting concluded with a social event at the City of Arts and Sciences, which facilitated networking and strengthened collaboration within the Iberian SPM user community.

The SPM BRUKER Iberian Users Meeting 2025 reaffirms ICMol’s role as a leading centre in nanoscale characterisation and its commitment to advanced training, excellence in research and the transfer of knowledge in collaboration with industry.