The ICFO-IMPRS Workshop: What began as an initiative to find scientific intersections has grown into a dynamic tradition of collaboration and community-building between the two institutions.

Fostering collaboration and community-building

Now in its fourth edition, the ICFO-IMPRS Workshop continues to be an exciting meeting point for young researchers from the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) and the International Max Planck Research School for Quantum Science and TechnologyI (IMPRS-QST). What began as an initiative to find scientific intersections has grown into a dynamic tradition of collaboration and community-building between the two institutions.

This year, the invitation to participate was extended beyond ICFO and IMPRS-QST, welcoming members from the broader Catalonia Quantum Academy (CQA) and the Munich Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST) network. By widening the circle, the workshop fostered even richer exchanges and opened new paths for collaboration.

What sets this workshop apart is its student-driven approach. From choosing themes and inviting speakers to coordinating logistics and chairing sessions, PhD students took full ownership of the event. This made the atmosphere truly refreshing and authentic, and ensured the program was aligned with the interests and needs of the participants.

Excellence in PhD Talks

A highlight of the event was undoubtedly the PhD talks. The level of professionalism and enthusiasm displayed by the students was exceptional, covering a wide spectrum of research topics. These talks were not only a demonstration of academic excellence but also sparked lively discussions that often continued beyond the formal sessions of the workshop. Looking ahead, the format might shift even further toward student and postdoc contributions, scaling down the number of invited talks to make space for more peer-to-peer exchange.

Invited Speakers and Meaningful Intersections

The invited talks were selected to reflect the shared scientific interests of ICFO and IMPRS-QST. These sessions balanced theoretical and experimental perspectives and spanned diverse topics, offering something of value to everyone. They also created space for personal interaction with established researchers, opening the door for future collaborations.

What We Learned as Organizers

For the organizing team, the experience was both challenging and rewarding. Striking the right balance between theory and experiment, maintaining gender diversity among speakers, and fine-tuning session formats were all part of the learning curve. The one-hour talks worked particularly well, especially when delivered by junior group leaders and postdocs who could engage on more equal footing with the audience.

This year, we tested the buddy system for the first time, pairing participants from Barcelona with PhD students in Munich based on shared research interests. The idea was for each buddy to serve as a local contact: introducing guests to the Munich research environment, showing them around, and in some cases organizing group visits or lab tours. While the system generally worked well and facilitated meaningful connections, we realized that adding a bit more structure could make it even more effective in future editions.

Other group activities aimed at fostering interaction were also well received, creating a relaxed environment for participants to connect beyond the formal sessions. In this spirit, we found that providing more space for open discussions, whether in the form of extended coffee breaks, informal roundtables, or unstructured Q&A sessions, would be a valuable addition in future editions.

With Thanks to MCQST

We are grateful to MCQST for their generous support, which covered catering and the conference dinner. Their contribution helped us create not just a scientifically stimulating environment, but also one that was socially engaging and welcoming. The atmosphere of informal exchange and connection would not have been possible without this support.

As we look ahead, the ICFO-IMPRS Workshop remains an essential element of the growing partnership between our institutions. By empowering students and fostering authentic collaboration, we are not only sharing knowledge, but we are also building friendships that strengthen the foundation of our scientific communities.

Workshop organizers

Johannes Arceri, IMPRS
Amine Ben Mhenni, IMPRS
Teresa Karanikolaou, ICFO
Harini Raghavan, ICFO
Panagiotis Tselifis, ICFO
Bennet Windt, IMPRS
Giovanna Petrillo (ICFO) and Sonya Gzyl (IMPRS-QST) offered organizational support and advice.