The comprehensive Endurance upgrade programme was completed in 2024. With a budget of 50+ M€, about 30 projects have been delivered, including neutron guide systems, new and upgraded instruments, sample environment and data and software services. More intense neutron beams combined with more efficient detector systems provide major new capability for measuring ever smaller samples, including in extreme sample environments, and weaker signals. In addition, significantly shorter measuring times facilitate parametric studies and increase throughput and, therefore, overall capacity. Thus the upgrade programme as a whole, supported by ongoing and new projects, ensures that research capability at the ILL will continue to be world leading for the next decade, offering new opportunities for cutting-edge science. In this context, the ILL has elaborated a science strategy to optimise the use of its state-of-the-art scientific infrastructure over the next decade and enhance the delivery of societal impact with neutrons.
The Endurance programme, ongoing and new projects, and the science strategy will be presented, including recent science highlights, and set in the context of future reactor operation, given the recent, excellent decision that ILL will now operate at least until the end of 2033.