The Platform MaterialDigital drives the development of a materials data space that unites data and its processing. With this holistic approach, we support research, development and industry along the entire value chain and serve as a guide in digitalization.

Our initiative is formed from the Platform MaterialDigital and the associated projects. Together with our companions, we develop and test solutions for digitalization in materials science and materials engineering.

Our goal is to develop digitalization solutions that can be applied from small and medium-sized enterprises to research laboratories and industry. We can only master this challenge if we go the way together. For this reason, our principle is based on an open community that invites all interested parties to participate.

We are committed to transparent and participatory development. Our activities are funded by the BMFTR and the developed solutions are made accessible according to the FAIR principles, so that they can serve as a guide for materials science and materials engineering.

History of the MaterialDigital Platform

With its announcement for the funding of projects within the framework of the initiative for the digitalization of materials research in Germany, the former Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) launched the first phase of the MaterialDigital initiative on August 20, 2019.

On the basis of the framework program "From Material to Innovation", materials-based research, development and innovation projects on the topic "Digitalization of Materials Research in Germany" were to be funded. The funding was designed to fundamentally and sustainably support materials research, development and production as well as the processing of materials up to the component and beyond with innovative digital methods, concepts and processes, and thus ultimately to place product development in Germany on a more solid foundation.

As a foundation for this funding measure, the BMBF had already established the "Innovation Platform MaterialDigital" on July 1, 2019. Supported by a consortium, this platform was to create the conditions for sustainable and concerted action by all relevant actors in the materials research sector in Germany.

The Platform MaterialDigital thus forms the framework for all associated projects and stakeholders and is responsible for the knowledge transfer of all participants.