In this issue the JSST editors are proud to present the 23 submissions reviewed and accepted for the new JSST program TOPICAL COLLECTIONS that celebrates Sol–Gel Research in Latin America. The authors for this Collection were invited by Prof. Dr. Sara Aldabe Bilmes (Argentina), Prof. Dr. Galo Soler-Illia (Argentina) and Prof. Dr. Sidney Ribeiro (Brazil), who also provided a Preface. We thank them for their efforts, which have enabled the diverse developments in sol–gel science and technology across Latin America to be explored in this JSST Special Issue.

Submissions for several other themes are still under review and will present original papers dedicated to Sol–Gel Research in Japan, Nanohybrids and Nanocomposites Materials, Applications close to the Industry, Sol–Gel Research in China, Sol–Gel Science and Technology in Art and Heritage Conservation, Sol–Gel Research in Europe, ISGS e-Seminar, Highly cited recent JSST authors, JSST 30th Anniversary, etc. They will appear soon in the journal.

We hope that all our readers will enjoy this new theme for the Topical Collections and your comments and suggestions are always welcome.