This year’s InMAT conference brought together researchers from a wide range of disciplines to discuss current developments in materials science with a particular focus on networked intelligent materials and their applications in sensing, bioelectronics, photonics, and neuromorphic systems. A total of 60 contributions – including 30 lectures, 14 invited talks, 11 poster presentations, and 5 poster pitch presentations – showcased new concepts, technologies, and methodological approaches.

Four CRCs – Four Perspectives on Networked Matter

A defining element of InMAT 2025 was the involvement of four Collaborative Research Centers, each contributing invited presentations on their respective research focuses:

CRC 1261: Magnetoelectric Sensors – From Composite Materials to Biomagnetic Diagnostics

• Susana Cardoso de Freitas (INESC Microsystems and Nanotechnologies, Portugal): Tactile sensors based on magnetic skin and TMR-based magnetic sensors
• Assistant Prof. Diana Leitao (Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands): Designing tunable magnetoresistive sensors
• Dr.-Ing. Christiane Richter (German Research Foundation, DFG): The DFG within the German scientific landscape
• Prof. Dr. Carsten Wolters (University of Münster, Germany): Contribution of new methods for combined EEG/MEG source analysis and optimized mc-TES to focal medication-resistant epilepsy

CRC 1270: Electrically Active Implants – ELAINE

• Prof. Dame Molly Stevens (University of Oxford, UK): Designing new biomaterials for tissue regeneration and therapeutics
• Dr. Christoph Tondera (Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Germany): Multifunctional conductive hydrogels for next generation bioelectronics
• Dr. Claire Villette (KU Leuven, Belgium): Multi-physics modelling of tissue engineered skeletal disorder systems

CRC 1477: Light-Matter Interactions at Interfaces (LiMatI)

• Alvaro Blanco (Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, ICMM-CSIC, Spain): Self-assembled complex photonic materials
• Prof. Dr. Klaus Meerholz (University of Cologne, Germany): Template designed organic electronics
• Prof. Dr. Kornelius Nielsch (Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, Germany): Ferecrystals: Non-epitaxial multilayer growth of 2D materials by atomic layer deposition

CRC 1461: Neurotronics – Bio-Inspired Information Pathways

• Prof. Dr. Jasmin Aghassi-Hagmann (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany): Solution-processable materials and structuring processes for electronic devices
• Prof. Dr. Claudia Lenk (Ulm University, Germany): Bio-inspired MEMS-based acoustic sensors to improve human and machine hearing
• Dr.-Ing. Sahitya Yarragolla (Kiel University, Germany): Switching dynamics in memristive devices: Bridging theory and experiments for neuromorphic applications

Contributions Available Online

To enable further engagement with the content, all presentations remain accessible on the event platform until mid-April. Participants can revisit the recordings and explore the material at their own pace.

Promoting Early-Career Researchers

As in previous years, InMAT 2025 placed strong emphasis on early-career researchers. Three outstanding poster presentations were recognized with awards:

• Meryem Ersahin (B.Sc., Kiel University) – Self-supporting 3D electrically small Cu and NiTi bimetallic antennas
• Tim Völzer (University of Rostock) – From coherent phonons to 2D material/dye molecule hybrids: A glimpse into the vast world of TMDCs
• Jonas Lumma (B.Sc., Kiel University) – Multi-hierarchical porosity in networked ultralightweight aerostructures

Beyond the scientific program, the event fostered informal exchange through lively discussions at the posters and exhibitor booths, and during the conference dinner held aboard a ship on Kiel’s waterways.

Photo Gallery Now Online

For those wishing to relive the event, the official photo gallery of InMAT 2025 is now available on the conference platform. It provides a visual recap of the diverse conference atmosphere – from lectures to the conference dinner.

Scientific Collaboration Across Disciplines

Special thanks go to the contributing CRCs and the scientific program committee. The conference was chaired by Prof. Dr. Rainer Adelung (Kiel University), Jacqueline Clüver (M.Sc., Networked Matter Kiel), Dr. Ralf Jaiser (Networked Matter Rostock), and Prof. Dr. Ralf Zimmermann (University of Rostock). The program committee included experts from Kiel and Rostock universities across physics, materials science, engineering, and medical fields.