Ustav fyziky materialu, Akademie Ved Ceske republiky, v.v.i.

Their core work

The Institute of Physics of Materials (IPM) of the Czech Academy of Sciences specializes in understanding and engineering the physical behavior of advanced materials — metals, ceramics, composites, and increasingly additively manufactured alloys. Their core work spans high-temperature material performance, structural integrity assessment, and computational materials science. They bring deep expertise in how materials behave under extreme conditions (heat, corrosion, mechanical stress), making them a valuable partner for energy, aerospace, and industrial manufacturing applications.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the earlier phase (2015–2018), IPM focused on traditional materials science — advanced ceramics, composites, and glasses (CoACH) — alongside contributing materials know-how to hydrogen energy systems (GrInHy). From 2019 onward, their work shifted decisively toward additive manufacturing of advanced materials, with both SIRAMM and topAM centering on how AM-produced components perform under stress and high temperatures. This pivot suggests a deliberate move from characterizing conventional materials to mastering the reliability challenges of next-generation manufacturing processes.

IPM is building deep competence in ensuring that additively manufactured metal components are safe and reliable at high temperatures — a critical gap as AM moves from prototyping to industrial production.

How they like to work

IPM operates exclusively as a participant, never as coordinator — they contribute specialist materials science knowledge to consortia led by others. With 43 unique partners across 13 countries from just 5 projects, they work in mid-to-large consortia and appear comfortable integrating into diverse international teams. This profile suggests a reliable, low-friction research partner that brings focused technical depth rather than project management overhead.

IPM has collaborated with 43 distinct partners across 13 countries, indicating a broad European network built through participation in diverse consortia. Their connections span Western and Eastern Europe, with particular strength in widening participation partnerships linking Czech expertise to broader EU research groups.

What sets them apart

IPM sits at the intersection of fundamental materials physics and industrial application — they understand both the atomic-level behavior of materials and the practical question of whether a manufactured component will survive real operating conditions. Their specific combination of additive manufacturing expertise with high-temperature and corrosion-resistance testing is rare among Central European research institutes. For consortium builders, they offer Czech Academy of Sciences credibility with a practical, industry-relevant research agenda and strong widening participation credentials.

Highlights from their portfolio

• topAM
  Their most technically focused project, directly addressing ODS (oxide dispersion strengthened) alloys for additive manufacturing of high-temperature devices — a niche with strong industrial demand.
• CoACH
  Their largest single EU grant (EUR 464,845), focused on advanced ceramics and composites for high-growth industries, demonstrating capacity to handle substantial research contributions.
• GrInHy
  Connected their materials expertise to the green hydrogen sector via high-temperature electrolysis — showing cross-sector applicability beyond traditional materials research.