3D Matter Made to Order
Cluster of Excellence of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) & Heidelberg University
3D Additive Manufacturing Driven Towards the Molecular Scale
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More InformationThe Cluster of Excellence is a collaboration of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Heidelberg University (Uni HD). It pursues an interdisciplinary approach through conjunction of natural, engineering, and life sciences. 3DMM2O establishes scalable digital 3D Additive Manufacturing transcending from the molecular to the macroscopic scale.
This approach converts digital information into functional materials, devices and systems “made to order.” 3DMM2O creates a powerful technology push and pull by treating molecular materials, technologies and applications as indissolubly intertwined.
On the technology side, the scientific challenges are “finer, faster, and more”, i.e., advance molecular materials and technologies in terms of resolution, speed, and multi-material printing by orders of magnitude.
On the application side, we aim at functional 3D hybrid optical and electronic systems, 3D artificial materials called metamaterials, and at reconstructing functioning organotypic systems by using 3D scaffolds for cell culture.
Prof. Dr. Martin Wegener
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
martin.wegener@kit.edu
Prof. Dr. Christine Selhuber-Unkel
Heidelberg University
selhuber@uni-heidelberg.de
News
ERC Advanced Grants for Groundbreaking Research
Two Principal Investigators from our Cluster have secured ERC Advanced Grants, which are prestigious research funds awarded by the European Research Council. With his project PICNIC, Wolfram Pernice explores how probabilistic photonic circuits can enable ultrafast and energy-efficient optical computing. Jana Zaumseil’s project, SCALE-NT, focuses on the sustainable processing of semiconducting carbon nanotubes with biodegradable materials for applications such as optical sensors and thermoelectric generators. The ERC Advanced Grant supports accomplished researchers as they develop ambitious, high-impact projects at the forefront of their fields. Congratulations!
© Tobias Schwerdt
3DMM2O Secures Second Funding Period
We are proud to announce that our Cluster of Excellence 3D Matter Made to Order (3DMM2O) has secured funding for a second period through the German Excellence Strategy. Following the submission of our renewal proposal in August 2024 and a successful on-site evaluation in January 2025, this achievement represents a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to advancing 3D Additive Manufacturing at the intersection of technical and life sciences. 3DMM2O will now begin on a new chapter filled with innovative research projects and interdisciplinary collaboration. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who made this success possible.
Peer Fischer elected AIMBE Fellow for outstanding contributions to biomedical engineering
Congratulations to our Cluster Principal Investigator, Prof. Dr. Peer Fischer, on being elected a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)! This prestigious honor recognizes the top two percent of engineers for their exceptional contributions to the field of biomedical engineering. Professor Fischer is recognized for his pioneering work in nanorobotics and ultrasound technologies, as well as for his efforts to bridge the gap between fundamental research and practical applications. Prof. Fischer leads a research group at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research and holds a professorship at Heidelberg University.
© AIMBE
Tunable Hydrogels for 4D Printing
In a new publication, Principal Investigator Eva Blasco, Cluster Alumnus Christoph Spiegel, and H. B. Duc Tran developed a new class of smart hydrogel inks based on OEGMA for 4D microprinting. They created materials with tunable thermoresponsive behavior across a broad temperature range (33–66 °C) by combining OEGMA with MEO2MA and HEMA, surpassing traditional systems. Using two-photon laser printing, the researchers produced precise 3D microstructures that change shape predictably and reversibly with temperature. This breakthrough opens new possibilities for soft microrobotics, smart sensors, and biomedical microdevices.
A Review of Nonlocal Metamaterials and Metasurfaces
A new review article featuring Cluster Postdoctoral Researcher Yi Chen and PI Martin Wegener, published in Nature Reviews Physics, explores the concept of nonlocality in metamaterials and metasurfaces. Unlike traditional materials, which have local responses, nonlocality enables a material’s behavior to depend on fields at multiple locations. This unlocks novel ways to control wave propagation across optics, acoustics, elasticity, and diffusion. The review highlights surprising phenomena, like unusual wave dispersion, long-range static effects, and spatially tailored responses in thin metasurfaces. These effects can be engineered using classical building blocks, paving the way for advanced applications in compact, wave-based technologies, like mobile devices and optical neural networks.
Explore the World of 3D Printing: A free Summer Workshop for Girls
Are you curious about turning ideas into real, usable objects? Our 2025 Summer 3D Printing Workshop for Girls is the perfect place to start! This free, hands-on workshop will be held on August 6–7 at the ZEISS Innovation Hub on the KIT Campus North in Karlsruhe. Girls and young women aged 13 to 19 are invited to attend and learn about the exciting world of 3D printing. Participants will learn to sketch ideas, model them in Fusion 360, and bring their designs to life with 3D printers. Whether you dream of creating keychains, phone stands, or something entirely unique, this is your chance to bring your imagination to life.
