FUNDACION IMDEA MATERIALES

Their core work

IMDEA Materials is a Madrid-region research institute focused on the science and engineering of advanced materials — from metals and composites for aerospace to bio-hybrid materials for optoelectronics. They design, model, and test materials at multiple scales, combining computational simulation with experimental characterization. Their work spans structural materials for demanding environments (aeroengines, airframes) and functional materials for energy storage and light-emitting devices. They bridge fundamental materials science with industrial application, particularly for the aeronautics and advanced manufacturing sectors.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), IMDEA Materials focused heavily on classical structural materials science: fracture mechanics, crystal plasticity, void growth modelling, composite behaviour in aeroengines, and metallic laminates — all rooted in computational and experimental mechanics for aerospace. From 2019 onward, a clear diversification emerged toward bio-hybrid optoelectronics (fluorescent proteins, polysaccharides for LEDs), additive manufacturing of metamaterials and superalloys, and functional materials like flame retardants and energy storage devices. The institute has evolved from a primarily structural-metals modelling lab into a broader advanced materials centre with strong bio-functional and digital manufacturing threads.

IMDEA Materials is moving toward the intersection of biological materials and digital manufacturing — expect future work in bio-inspired functional materials and data-driven materials design.

How they like to work

IMDEA Materials leads most of its projects: 19 of 31 as coordinator, which is unusually high for a research centre and reflects strong PI-driven grant capture, especially through MSCA Individual Fellowships (10 projects). Their participant roles tend to be in larger industrial consortia (Clean Sky 2, multi-partner RIAs), where they contribute specialist materials expertise. With 82 unique partners across 19 countries, they operate as a well-connected hub rather than a closed shop — making them accessible and experienced consortium partners.

They have collaborated with 82 distinct partners across 19 countries, indicating a broad and diverse European network. Their Clean Sky 2 and MSCA participation connects them to both major aerospace OEMs and universities across the continent.

What sets them apart

IMDEA Materials combines deep computational materials modelling expertise with experimental capabilities across an unusually wide spectrum — from metallurgy and aerospace composites to bio-hybrid optoelectronics and energy storage. Few European materials institutes bridge structural and functional materials this broadly while maintaining strong coordination capacity. Their MSCA fellowship track record (10+ hosted researchers) also makes them an attractive destination for early-career researchers, which keeps their expertise pipeline fresh and diverse.

Highlights from their portfolio

• VIRMETAL
  Largest single grant (EUR 2.47M ERC-level funding) for virtual design and testing of metallic materials — flagship project defining their computational materials identity.
• STEM
  EUR 1.45M project on structural energy harvesting composites — bridges their aerospace composites strength with emerging energy storage work.
• ARTIBLED
  Represents their pivot into bio-hybrid photonics, combining engineered artificial proteins with light-emitting device fabrication — a surprising capability for a traditionally metals-focused institute.