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Leibniz Institutes Launch EFRE-Funded “SMART” Project to Advance Hybrid Materials Research in Saxony
The Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF) and the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW) have secured funding from the European Regional Development Fund (EFRE) for their joint initiative “SMART – Soft Materials Research and Technology.” The project aims to establish a cutting-edge infrastructure platform to accelerate the development of hybrid materials that combine organic and inorganic components—crucial for innovations in microelectronics, sustainable energy technologies, quantum technologies, and biomedicine.
SMART will create a unique network of state-of-the-art laboratories at IPF and IFW Dresden, equipped for high-performance spectrometry, advanced synthesis methodologies for hybrid and heterostructure fabrication, and high-resolution surface and interface analytics. This integrated infrastructure will enable a seamless workflow from automated material synthesis to precise characterization, significantly accelerating research and innovation cycles in hybrid materials development.
Beyond its technological ambitions, SMART represents a strategic investment in Saxony’s research landscape. The project is designed to efficiently translate scientific findings into innovative products for regional high-tech industries and aligns closely with TU Dresden’s Clusters of Excellence, including “ct.qmat – Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter”, „REC2 Responsible Electronics“ und „PoL –Physics of Life“.
"SMART will strengthen joint research between Dresden's Leibniz institutions IFW and IPF for important future technologies," emphasises Prof. Dr. Carsten Werner, Scientific Director of IPF Dresden.
SMART is funded under the “Research InfraProNet 2021–2027” directive, co-financed by the EFRE and the Just Transition Fund—an initiative of the Free State of Saxony supporting application-oriented projects and research infrastructures at universities and public research institutions.
18.11.2025