ERFURT – They are used in the production of "smart" textiles, as well as in high-performance heat storage systems with temperatures up to 140 degrees Celsius, and even in operating rooms where surgeons reconstruct hip joints: Innovative materials and "intelligent materials" have become indispensable in industry and research, forming the basis for new processes and products in diverse sectors such as energy, transportation infrastructure, medical technology, electronics, and mechanical engineering. Thuringian stakeholders in this research field network annually at the Thuringian Materials Day. This year, the event will take place on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU). The organizers are the Thuringian Cluster Management of the LEG (Thuringian Energy Development Corporation) and the FSU with the Otto Schott Institute for Materials Research (OSIM).
“New solutions in this dynamic technology sector can only emerge when entrepreneurs and researchers network across disciplinary boundaries, which is why this year’s event is guided by the motto: ‘Materials Innovation through Cooperation and Interdisciplinarity,’” says Andreas Krey, Managing Director of LEG, ahead of the conference. “We offer a platform for a comprehensive exchange of ideas and experiences for all stakeholders in materials research and application.” A broad spectrum of topics characterizes the lecture program; the keynote address will be given by Dr. Pedro Portella from the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), who will answer the question, “What will materials research look like in the coming years?” Other speakers will address coordinated projects in Thuringia, new developments in materials technology, and practical examples of the application of smart materials in industry – from the production of state-of-the-art probes in medical technology and the creation of “digital twins” to new approaches in laser cladding. The poster presentations will also provide new impetus for participants’ own work. Furthermore, companies, research institutions and universities present their products and services as part of an exhibition; many of them also offer their job, training and study opportunities for skilled workers as potential employers.
Background:
The Thuringian Cluster Management (ThCM) operates on behalf of the Free State of Thuringia (Thuringian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Science and Digital Society) and is co-financed by the European Union (ERDF). ThCM coordinates and supports the activities of Thuringian clusters in the defined specialization areas of the Thuringian Innovation Strategy (RIS3). Furthermore, ThCM organizes and supports events and trade fairs of cluster policy significance. It assists companies and researchers in acquiring EU and federal funding and conducts targeted monitoring of funding opportunities and programs.
