UNIVERSITAET DER BUNDESWEHR MUENCHEN

Their core work

The University of the Bundeswehr Munich is Germany's military university, conducting dual-use research spanning advanced materials, cybersecurity, aerospace propulsion, and structural simulation. Their labs contribute significantly to the Graphene Flagship — Europe's largest research initiative on 2D materials — while also developing semiconductor technologies (FDSOI) for autonomous driving and 5G communications. They bring strong capabilities in computational mechanics, finite element and isogeometric analysis for 3D/4D printed structures, and operate ion beam research infrastructure used across disciplines from materials science to accelerator mass spectrometry.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 phase (2015–2018), work centered on technology transfer, foundational graphene research, and RF semiconductor substrates — building core competencies in materials and electronics. From 2019 onward, the focus shifted toward applied sensor systems (gas sensors, optical metrology), cybersecurity coordination, space propulsion, and advanced computational modeling for additive manufacturing. The trajectory shows a clear move from upstream materials research toward applied, security-relevant, and dual-use technologies — consistent with a defense university expanding its civilian research partnerships.

Moving toward applied dual-use technologies — particularly computational modeling of 3D-printed structures, integrated sensor systems, and cybersecurity — making them an increasingly relevant partner for defense-adjacent and Industry 4.0 consortia.

How they like to work

Overwhelmingly a participant (20 of 22 projects), contributing specialist expertise to large consortia rather than leading them. Their two coordinator roles — CONCORDIA in cybersecurity and FDM^2 (an ERC grant) — show leadership capacity in specific niches. With 486 unique partners across 32 countries, they operate as a broad-network contributor rather than a tight-cluster institution, making them easy to integrate into new consortia.

An extensive European network of 486 unique consortium partners spanning 32 countries, reflecting participation in large flagship initiatives (Graphene Flagship alone connects them to hundreds of partners). Strong ties across Western and Central Europe with no narrow geographic concentration.

What sets them apart

As Germany's military university, UniBw Munich occupies a rare position at the intersection of civilian research excellence and defense-relevant technology development. This dual mandate gives them unique access to security-sensitive research domains (cybersecurity, hybrid threats, resilient systems) while maintaining full participation in open EU research. Their combination of graphene materials expertise, FDSOI semiconductor know-how, and advanced structural simulation is unusual for a single institution and valuable for consortia bridging materials, electronics, and manufacturing.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FDM^2
  Their largest project at €2M — an ERC Consolidator Grant for multiscale modeling of 3D/4D printed materials, signaling a top-tier individual researcher and institutional strength in computational mechanics.
• CONCORDIA
  One of only two projects they coordinated, building a pan-European cybersecurity competence network — demonstrates leadership capability and trust from the EU in a strategically important domain.
• GrapheneCore3
  Third consecutive phase of the Graphene Flagship (€980K), making them one of the sustained contributors to Europe's flagship 2D materials initiative across its entire lifecycle.