From Crystals to the Technologies of the Future: International Workshop IWCG-2026 Held at SSI.

     Crystals are more than just objects of fundamental research. The performance of materials used in optics, electronics, laser technology, medicine, and other high-tech industries depends on their structure, purity, and physical properties. These very issues were at the heart of an international scientific discussion held in Kharkiv on November 3–4.
     The International Workshop on Crystal Growth 2026 (IWCG-2026) was held at SSI "Institute for Single Crystals" of the NAS of Ukraine". The event took place in a hybrid format, bringing together more than 60 experts from Ukraine, Germany, France, China, Poland, Romania, and the Slovak Republic.
     The workshop was organized by the "Institute for Single Crystals" of the NAS of Ukraine and the I.M. Frantsevich Ukrainian Materials Science Society.
Participants discussed advanced technologies for single crystal growth, the underlying principles of crystal formation, phase transitions, computer modeling, as well as research into the structure, defects, and physical properties of crystalline materials. A special focus was placed on functional, optical, and photonic crystals — materials whose potential opens up new prospects for technological development.
      The program featured three invited lectures delivered by leading scientists: Prof. Matias Velazquez (France), Prof. Yunzhong Zhu (China), Prof. Daniel Vizman (Romania)
      The program also included 23 oral presentations by specialists in the field.
      For our Scientific Complex, hosting IWCG-2026 marked another step in strengthening international scientific communication and fostering cooperation in crystallography and materials science.
      Such meetings are important not only for presenting new scientific findings. They provide an opportunity to compare research approaches, discuss technological challenges, and identify areas for future collaborative work.
       The organizers plan to hold the next International Workshop on Crystal Growth in two years, once again at the Institute for Single Crystals in Kharkiv.