Warsaw, Poland report on the Third International Conference on Solid State Crystals (ICSSC) -Materials Science and Applications, which was held in Zakopane, Poland last year. The Conference has been held every two years for over 25 years, slowly becoming international in its character. Since 1998 it has become the main forum for presentation and discussion of recent development in the field of solid state crystal technology, investigations and characterisation in the region of East and Central Europe. Poland's central location in Europe and convenient transport connections facilitated an organisation of representative meetings of scientists from different research centres and universities. The conference has expanded to five main headings: crystal growth; characterisation and applications of solid state materials; nanostructured materials and films; optoelectronic devices; organic materials for electronics. The conference theme of material science and application, demonstrated the value and connection of new trends in science and technology of crystal growth across disciplines and interests, attracting about 140 participants from 10 countries, out of more than 155 presented papers including 20 invited lectures, 27 oral presentations and 108 posters.