The Wigner Research Centre is devoted to basic experimental physics research in its local laboratories and at large international facilities, it coordinates the national participation in large international cooperations, and aims at excellence in theoretical research. The Centre is composed of 34 research groups including more than 200 staff researchers. Table-top laboratory research in the Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics, in the fields of optics, laser physics, quantum optics and quantum information, focuses on the deeper understanding and advanced control of light-matter interaction, which activity is complemented by basic theoretical research.