Presently, MBI is one of BESSY's CRG (cooperating research group) - accordingly the total available synchrotron beamtime at the U125 undulator to be equally shared between MBI and BESSY. This includes guest experiments with users from outside who are assisted by MBI staff members. It is planned to change this mode of operation by the end of 2005 when the MBI-BESSY beam line will become available to a broader public, and the MBI team will then act as a ‘regular’ user group at BESSY.

Several developments at BESSY are currently focused on making shorter SR pulses available: the low-alpha mode (< 3 ps pulse width), the fs beam slicing, and last but not least the plans for an FEL installation for the EUV region. These plans will strongly influence future MBI activities at BESSY in general. The BESSY laser groups are strongly involved in the present construction and planning phases as far as laser know-how is concerned.