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In 2019, the University of Freiburg and the Penn State University founded the Convergence Center for Living Multifunctional Material Systems (LiMC²). On November 10 and 11, 2020, the partners will present their cooperation in a virtual conference on the occasion of the “Materials Day”. The event is organized annually by the Materials Research Institute of Penn State University to highlight materials-related interdisciplinary science and engineering research. This year's "Materials Days" deals with the topic "Convergence of Materials and Life". Professor Jürgen Rühe, spokesperson of the Cluster of Excellence "Living, Adaptive and Energy-autonomous Materials Systems" (livMatS) at the University of Freiburg, will open the conference as the keynote speaker. Professor Zoubeida Ounaies, Director of the Convergence Center, will address the participants on November 11.

Rühe and Ounaies will discuss the partnership between both centers, including ongoing research in biomaterials and bioinspired approaches, as well as future research opportunities. To launch the future research partnerships, livMatS and LiMC² will release a call for seed grant proposals. In January 2021, the partners will start an internship program that will enable students to work in the binational projects. It is especially designed to operate under the current conditions created by COVID-19 which put severe restrictions on international travel. In the coming months, researchers from both locations will furthermore be working on position papers on the central topics of the Center.

Since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in July 2019, LiMC² and livMatS have steadily forged ahead in collaborating, setting the example for international collaborative efforts and partnerships. The collaboration in this strategic initiative comes after more than two decades of partnership between Penn State and the Albert-Ludwigs University in Freiburg.


More information on the "Materials Day"