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 social 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
3D Printed Collagen: A major step forward in tissue engineering
A team of scientists including Cluster Doctoral Researchers Philipp Mainik and Magdalena Fladung, Cluster Scientists Camilo Aponte-Santamaría and Irene Wacker, and Principal Investigators Martin Bastmeyer, Rasmus R. Schröder, Frauke Gräter and Eva Blasco, has developed a collagen type I methacrylamide (ColMA) ink that enables precise 3D printing of microstructures using two-photon laser printers. The ink, storable at room temperature, enables structures that reversibly fold and unfold with temperature changes, mimicking natural extracellular matrix behavior. This breakthrough opens new possibilities for dynamic biomaterials, advanced tissue scaffolds, and 4D printing.
Advanced Functional Materials: Special Issue
Explore the latest Special Issue of Advanced Functional Materials (Volume 34, Issue 20), featuring groundbreaking research from our Cluster of Excellence 3D Matter Made to Order (3DMM2O). This issue focuses on advances in digital 3D additive manufacturing, covering innovations from the molecular and nanometer scale to larger micro- and macroscale applications. The articles explore how these technologies are pushing the boundaries of engineering and the life sciences, offering new solutions to previously unsolvable challenges. Learn more about the future of 3D printing and the pioneering work of 3DMM2O.
Register now for the 3DMM2O Conference 2025 – Deadline January 31!
Don’t miss your chance to attend the Future 3D Additive Manufacturing – 3DMM2O Conference 2025, taking place from March 23–27, 2025, at the historic Schöntal Monastery. The registration deadline is January 31, 2025 – secure your place now! This year’s focus is on Additive Nano- and Micro-Fabrication, with topics such as photonic neural networks, bioelectronic devices, and recyclable electronics. Engage with leading experts, discover the latest advances and explore the future of 3D additive manufacturing at this unique event.
A breakthrough in printed electronics
Cluster Doctoral Researchers Yan Liu and Christian Rainer, Principal Investigators Uli Lemmer, Christof Wöll, and Jasmin Aghassi-Hagmann, and Cluster Alumnus Hongrong Hu, have successfully integrated HKUST-1, a metal-organic framework (MOF), into inkjet-printed memristors. These advanced memory devices operate at ultra-low voltages (~1V), achieve resistance changes up to 10,000 times, and remain stable over more than 60 write-erase cycles. This innovation combines the precision of inkjet printing with the unique properties of MOFs, paving the way for scalable, sustainable, and next-generation electronics.
Funding awarded for innovative research in cell biology
Our Principal Investigator, Prof. Dr. Kerstin Göpfrich of the Heidelberg University, has been funded by the prestigious Allen Distinguished Investigator Program of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. Her project, in collaboration with researchers in Austria and the United Kingdom, will investigate how chemical exchange processes influence cell shape and the role of active membranes in cellular communication. The Foundation is providing $1.5 million for this groundbreaking research, which combines simulations, synthetic membrane systems, and in vivo experiments to unravel this newly hypothesized mechanism.
Leibniz Prize for pioneering research in photonics
Our Principal Investigator, Prof. Dr. Wolfram Pernice from the Heidelberg University, has been awarded the prestigious Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The award recognizes his pioneering work in integrated photonics, particularly in the development of neuromorphic photonic computing for energy-efficient AI and quantum technologies. The prize, the most prestigious research award in Germany with a purse of 2.5 million euros, highlights his groundbreaking interdisciplinary research spanning physics, computer science and engineering.
