IKU-SPECTRA International Congress on Spectroscopy (ICS) series of meetings aims to bring together leading scientists from around the world working in the field of molecular spectroscopy, both fundamental and applied, to exchange knowledge, present their most recent findings, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. The congresses are going to occur each two years.

The 1st congress of the series (ICS 2026) will be held on 21-22 May 2026 at the Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Center, Istanbul Kültür University, Istanbul, Türkiye.

ICS 2026 is organized under the umbrella of the Spectroscopy@IKU ERA-Chair Project, funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe (WIDERA) programme and hosted by the IKU-SPECTRA Molecular Sciences and Spectroscopy Applied Research Center.

Congress Overview

ICS 2026 will cover fundamental and applied aspects of all kinds of spectroscopy from both experimental and theoretical perspectives. Through invited talks, poster and oral communication, but also through informal discussions, ICS 2026 aims to foster collaboration between academia and industry and promote innovative research at the intersection of science and technology.

Scientific Framework

ICS 2026 is supported by IKU-SPECTRA Research Center and the Spectroscopy@IKU ERA-Chair Project, which promote cutting-edge research in molecular spectroscopy, focusing on:

• Isolated Molecules and Aggregates: Cryogenic matrix isolation, vibrationally induced chemistry and quantum tunneling phenomena.
• Molecular Crystals and Polymorphism: Infrared, Raman and UV/Vis spectroscopy combined with XRD and DSC techniques to study polymorphs' structure and polymorphic transformations.
• Computational and Theoretical Chemistry: Quantum-chemical modeling and data-driven spectral analysis using DFT, TD-DFT and chemometric methods.

The IKU-SPECTRA Research Center provides state-of-the-art experimental facilities, including Türkiye's first Matrix Isolation Spectroscopy Facility, as well as advanced Raman Imaging and X-ray Diffraction Laboratories.