Organisation

Developing and implementing interactive materials cannot be done in an ‘ivory tower’. Thus, in many research projects, the scientists of the DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials are cooperating with universities and other research institutes and companies in Germany and throughout the world.

Member of the Leibniz Association

As a member of the Leibniz Association, the DWI is funded by federal and state governments as part of the joint funding program in accordance with Article 91b of the German constitution (Grundgesetz, GG). The Leibniz Association combines 97 independent research institutes. The focuses of these institutes range from natural sciences, engineering sciences and environmental sciences, through to economic sciences, spatial sciences, social sciences and the humanities.

Network

 

The DWI – Leibniz Institute: A Registered Association with Different Organs and Committees

The DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials is a registered association whose governing body is the Association of Members. The Managing Board represents the association and is responsible for long-term research planning.

 

The Board of Trustees and Scientific Advisory Board

The Board of Trustees oversees all of the association's scientific, programmatic and economic affairs and is responsible for matters such as annual research plans and program budgets. The Scientific Advisory Board advises the Board of Trustees and Scientific Board on matters such as medium-term research and development planning, as well as national and international cooperations and important decisions for the further development of the research institute.

Members of the Board of Trustees

  • Prof. Dr. S. Förster (Vice Chairman), Forschungszentrum Jülich
  • N. Dziergwa, Federal Ministry of Education and Research
  • Dr. D. Keßler, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
  • Dr. T. Grösser, BASF SE
  • Prof. Dr. U. Rüdiger, RWTH Aachen University
  • Dr. M. H. Wappelhorst, Ministry of Culture and Science
  • Prof. Dr. K.P. Wittern

Members of the Scientific Advisory Board

  • Prof. Dr. Sebastian Koltzenburg, BASF SE, Ludwigshafen (Chair)
  • Dr. Petra Severit, Altana (Vice Chair)
  • Prof. Dr. Patricia Dankers, Eindhoven University
  • Dr. habil Nikolaus Nestle, BASF
  • Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Maurer, AB Enzymes GmbH
  • Prof. Dr. Ulrich Sigmar Schubert, Friedrich-Schiller Universität Jena
  • Prof. Dr. Meike Stiesch, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
  • Dr. Jean Francois Lutz, Institute of Supramolecular Science and Engineering (Strasbourg)
  • Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Huck, Radboud-Universität Nijmegen
  • Prof. Dr. Marleen Kamperman, University of Groningen
  • Prof. Dr. Katja Schenke-Layland, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
  • Dr. Sandra Reemers, EVONIK Operations

Scientific Board

The Scientific Board develops the research plan in detail and coordinates the individual research programs. The core of the Scientific Board, made up of five professors who were also appointed by RWTH Aachen University, is bolstered by independent junior researchers and associated professors. This broad and interdisciplinary staffing is possible due to the institute’s successful acquisition of third-party funds in the area of basic research and through the Leibniz Institute’s collaboration with RWTH Aachen University.

 

Project Development Conference

The project development conference (PEK, Projektentwicklungskonferenz) is made up of the extended Scientific Board (professors and associated, working groups) and the scientific team. In the project development conference, individual projects are developed and the research is coordinated within the work groups.

Other topics

How we work

Convergence

For achieving actual progress in the field of material development, you need more than the knowledge of a single research discipline.

How we work

Organisational Culture

As a research institute, the DWI takes on the challenge of surpassing disciplinary limits and tackling new questions relating to substances and materials that combine technology and nature.