Vacuum science underpins progress in semiconductor manufacturing, scientific instrumentation and space applications. Vacuum Symposium 2026 takes place from 16 to 17 June in Oxford and brings together researchers, technicians and industrial users for technical sessions, hands on training and industry exhibits.
Dates and venue for Vacuum Symposium 2026
The meeting runs on 16 and 17 June 2026 at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxford. The campus layout supports a mix of technical papers, training courses and guided visits to major scientific facilities.
Programme highlights at Harwell Campus
The programme combines a technical meeting with specialist training courses. The Quantum Enabled Vacuum technical strand focused on the role of vacuum in emerging quantum technologies. Eight Vacuum Technology Training Courses provided practitioner level instruction and were a central feature of the event.
The 2026 Harry Leck Memorial Medal was awarded to Professor Mark Baker from the University of Surrey. The symposium also featured a keynote from Mark Burrows, Head of Business Incubation at UK Research and Innovation, and the poster prize went to George Miller from STFC Daresbury Laboratory.
Guided tours showcased Diamond Light Source, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, the Space Cluster and the Central Laser Facility, illustrating the breadth of large scale research infrastructure at Harwell.
Exhibitors and attendee profile
The co located exhibition included 47 exhibitors representing vacuum industry suppliers and service providers. Approximately 180 delegates attended the symposium, with over 120 taking part in training and more than 400 individual course module registrations. The audience mixed academic researchers, R&D engineers and industrial practitioners seeking equipment and practical solutions.
How to prepare commercial prospecting for Vacuum Symposium 2026
- Segment your targets by role and application area. Focus on R&D teams and technical leads in semiconductors, instrumentation or quantum projects.
- Bring concise technical collateral and demo ready equipment. Training sessions enable technical dialogue so provide data rich materials and short case studies.
- Schedule product demonstrations and meetings before arrival. Pre arranged meetings increase conversion and ensure time with key contacts.
- Link your value proposition to the laboratory visits. Referencing specific facilities at Harwell helps position products against real use cases.
- Prepare tailored follow up packs for academic and industrial prospects with clear next steps and timelines.
Key figures
- Delegates approximately 180
- Exhibitors 47
- Over 120 participants in training
- More than 400 registrations for individual training modules
Final note and source for registration
Vacuum Symposium 2026 pairs concentrated technical content with a focused exhibition that connects research and industry in vacuum technology. For programme details, course options and registration follow the official site at http://www.vacuum-uk.org and arrange meetings ahead of the Harwell Campus sessions.
