The optimization of the properties of confined soft materials, nanocomposites and biomaterials for new applications requires the improved understanding of their microscopic structure and dynamics that synchrotron x-ray techniques can provide. This talk will present some of the results recently obtained together with some novel materials that present challenges for future work. Representative examples will be chosen from a wide range of confined and nanoscale systems including selenium-zeolite nanocomposites, confined polymer electrolytes, thermohardening polymer composites, polymers threaded inside nanotubes, organic-inorganic hybrids, magnetoresistive materials with nanoscale disorder, magnetic nanocrystals, protein functionalized carbon nanotubes, confined sugar solutions and ionic liquids. With materials of such complexity it is often necessary to complement x-ray measurements with other techniques such as electron microscopy, NMR, Raman scattering and neutron scattering as well as computer simulation and electronic structure calculations.