On 29-30 November, the Centre hosted a meeting in cooperation with the International Centre for Science and High Technology (ICS) to discuss a proposal to launch a basic training programme for scientists who do not have access to ultrafast lasers in their home institutions but who want to conduct research in this field. Viet Nam emerged as the front runner in this partnership proposal, which could then be extended to Egypt, Argentina and East European countries. The Laser Laboratory at the Elettra synchrotron light source is likely to serve as a training facility for this initiative.