The five cross-cutting, strategic research areas of the institute are designed to accelerate the transfer of research results into industry, particularly in the mid-range technology readiness levels (TRL 3 to 6), enhanced by digitally integrated approaches.
The increasing computational power of modern systems—including quantum computing—and the use of high-throughput and combinatorial simulation and experimental techniques now allow the rapid calculation of thousands of entirely new material compositions. This capability makes it possible to explore extremely large solution spaces virtually, and in a fraction of the time required by traditional methods.
In addition, the institute aims to open its own materials science and physics research platform within the DLR MAPHEUS sounding rocket program as an accessible “proof-of-concept” platform, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These combined strategies are intended to significantly shorten research and development cycles during the early TRL phases (TRL 2 to TRL 4) by identifying promising materials for specific applications.
For higher TRLs (TRL ≥ 4), the institute’s sub-scale capabilities—including materials manufacturing, mechanical testing, and, in the future, testing under corrosive conditions—combined with AI-driven analysis and robotic systems, further accelerate the maturation of new applications. This not only speeds up the development process but also enhances the effectiveness of transferring results into industrial practice.
Moreover, the institute’s focus on increasing TRLs and enabling the introduction of new products and components supports the creation of a culture of technology transfer. This culture is aimed at fostering spin-offs and bridging the gap between research and market adoption.
D4-Approach
The Institute's research activities are systematically focussed along the four main stages of the materials development chain, namely design, discovery, demonstration and deployment.
