The development of new technological solutions and characterization techniques in the thin film optical coatings research is fundamental for many applications, as innovative instrumentation and sensors, photonics and plasmonics tools, smart devices etc. Each advance is supported by the basic research, addressed to explain properties of materials at small scale and to fulfill the requirements of optics and photonics advancements. The activities are focused on scientific investigation and development of thin and nanostructured coatings for many applications ranging from sensor devices to extreme ultraviolet optical elements. The activity includes theory, simulation, design, characterization and validation of new and advanced materials of technological relevance.