ASOCIACION DE INVESTIGACION MPC - MATERIALS PHYSICS CENTER

Their core work

Materials Physics Center (MPC) is a research center in San Sebastián, Spain, specializing in computational and experimental condensed matter physics. They use first-principles calculations and density functional theory to discover and characterize new materials — from hydrogen-based superconductors to nonlinear photovoltaic materials. Their work spans fundamental physics (superconductivity, quantum lattice vibrations) to applied measurement techniques like NMR and dynamic nuclear polarization, bridging theory and experiment in materials science.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

MPC's earliest H2020 involvement (2019) centered on quantum materials theory — superconductivity in hydrogen compounds and first-principles lattice dynamics. By 2021, their focus broadened into two new directions: applied measurement science (NMR/MRI enhancement via MaGNiFi) and nonlinear optical phenomena in advanced materials (PhotoNow). The consistent thread is computational materials physics, but the applications have shifted from pure theory toward photovoltaics, imaging, and detector technologies.

MPC is moving from fundamental condensed matter theory toward application-oriented materials discovery — particularly in energy harvesting (photovoltaics) and medical imaging (NMR/MRI), making them increasingly relevant for applied R&D partnerships.

How they like to work

MPC operates equally as coordinator and participant (2 each), suggesting confidence in leading projects while remaining open to joining established consortia. With only 8 unique partners across 4 countries, they work in small, focused teams rather than large multi-partner consortia — consistent with ERC and MSCA grants that favor tight research groups. This makes them a reliable, hands-on partner rather than a passive consortium filler.

MPC has collaborated with 8 distinct partners across 4 countries, forming a compact but internationally connected network. Their partnership pattern reflects the small-team structure typical of ERC-funded fundamental research rather than broad industrial consortia.

What sets them apart

MPC sits at the intersection of computational physics and experimental materials science — they can both predict material properties from theory and validate them in the lab. Their dual competence in first-principles simulations and advanced measurement techniques (NMR, optical spectroscopy) is rare for a single center. For consortium builders, they offer a one-stop partner for both the theoretical modeling and experimental verification of new materials.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PhotoNow
  Largest project (EUR 1.4M ERC Starting Grant) and coordinated by MPC — targets third-generation nonlinear photovoltaics including Weyl semimetals and ferroelectrics, a frontier research area with energy applications.
• BOLD
  Part of a large ERC Synergy Grant exploring the fundamental nature of neutrinos through single barium atom detection — an unusual crossover between materials physics and particle physics.
• MaGNiFi
  Coordinated MSCA fellowship bridging quantum sensing (nitrogen-vacancy centres) with medical imaging (NMR/MRI), showing MPC's ability to connect fundamental physics to healthcare applications.