1. Introduction
The ALBA Synchrotron light source [1] provides extended research capabilities and a wide range of state-of-the-art instrumentation to aca- demic and industrial users of the Spanish and European Research Area. ALBA delivers the Spanish research community another gate to the larger European research network and infrastructures, especially through the participation in LEAPS, the League of European Accelerator-based Photon Sources [2] and is one of the players of the recently published European Strategy for Accelerator-based Photon Sources (ESAPS 2022 [3]).
ALBA is ready to leap from the 3rd to the 4th generation and give birth to ALBA II by combining the upgrade of the storage ring with that of the existing instrumentation and the addition of new cutting-edge beamlines (BLS).
ALBA II long BLS will extend to the nearby plots (see Figure 1), where there is opportunity to combine the corresponding experimental hall with new scientific and technological institutes. The combination of a large research infrastructure and a science and technology park, situated near the Barcelona universities and research centers, along with the proximity of the Autonomous University of Barcelona [4], will foster research, innovation, and economic growth. This initiative will also provide Spain with a unique high-tech company incubator.