New experimental methods for investigations of phase formation during SHS have been established. First experiments using penetrating synchrotron radiation and energy dispersive detectors for different classes of complex inorganic materials were carried out at ESRF (Grenoble, France) and Daresbury (UK). A new and very sensitive thermal imaging method (Thermal Imaging Technique (TIT)) based on continuous registration of the whole combustion process by using highly sensitive IR-camera and software developed by MIKRON Instruments Co. (USA) was used for precise registration' of the combustion parameters. SHS was performed on different types of pure and doped complex inorganic materials in pellet and powder form in a range of dc magnetic fields up to 20 T and in electrical field strengths up to +/- 220 kV/m. The dc magnetic field was applied during the reaction, supplied either by a permanent magnet (transverse, up to 1.1 T) or by an electromagnet (longitudinal, up to 20 T). The dc electrical field was applied along the direction of the combustion wave front propagation. The combined processes of SHS and SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) of 3D articles for different powdered compositions were optimized with laser irradiation power.