Dr Daniele Margarone of CPP has been bestowed with a prestigious honour by the Italian state, and is now a Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy (Cavaliere dell’ Ordine della Stella d’Italia). This honour is conferred by the President of Italy, to expatriates  who have made an outstanding contribution to Italian prestige abroad. Daniele was awarded this honour in recognition of his leading role in the development of the ELI Beamlines facility in the Czech Republic (a major international research installation), as well as the connections he has helped establish between the Italian and Czech scientific communities. The honour was conferred to Daniele on 27 July 2021 in Prague by the Italian Embassador to the Czech Republic, Prof. Francesco Saverio Nisio.