Innovative light sources (ILS’s) are one of the most powerful tools for exploring the inner properties of matter. Knowledge about these properties allows novel applications in a large variety in scientific and technological fields. Centres hosting ILS’s are crossroads between fundamental science, state-of-the-art technology, high-level education and training, and business sectors. Therefore, they provide a formidable environment for human capital development. In central Europe one can notice that not all regions are currently taking full advantage of this great potential. CENILS sets out to bring closer the research and industrial applications relying on ILS’s and to exploit this knowledge for fostering human capital.