Physicist Päivi Törmä from Aalto University in Finland was the first participant in the new fellowship program.
The FEMS Research Center has developed steadily since the launch of the Research Alliance Ruhr and presented itself to the scientific community for the first time in fall 2025.
The Future Energy Materials and Systems conference in fall 2025 provided an opportunity for intensive exchange – as seen here at one of the poster stands in the supporting program.
Around 130 participants from the scientific community came together in September 2025 to network, discuss new research approaches, and develop ideas for future collaborations.
The professors of RC FEMS in fall 2025 (from left): Anna Isaeva, Dennis Meier, Gabi Schierning, Christian Liebscher, Silvana Botti, Miguel Marques, Christof Schulz (founding director), Manfred Bayer (founding director), Andrea Kirsch, and Alfred Ludwig (founding director)
Future Energy Materials and Systems
Research Center Accelerates into Action
A Flying Start: At the Research Center Future Energy Materials and Systems of the University Alliance Ruhr, the materials of our energy future are being explored.
The Research Center Future Energy Materials and Systems (RC FEMS) of the University Alliance Ruhr officially launched in autumn 2025 - with a symposium featuring international participation. With new professorships, funding programs, and global networking, the Research Center has already marked its first milestones. Its research focuses on new materials for energy conversion, storage, and transport. The goal is to transfer scientific breakthroughs into concrete technological solutions, accelerating the transition to a sustainable energy future.
New Programs for Collaboration and Exchange
The recently launched Incubator Program supports collaboration between newly appointed professors and the faculties of the three universities within the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr). Up to three postdoctoral researchers per year are given the opportunity to work on interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of materials science, physics, chemistry, and engineering. This program strengthens scientific exchange and lays the foundation for long-term cooperation within the UA Ruhr.
The new Fellowship Program focuses outward: it brings leading international researchers to Bochum, Dortmund, and Duisburg-Essen to initiate joint research projects. The first fellow, in autumn 2025, was Finnish physicist Prof. Päivi Törmä from Aalto University, Espoo, an internationally renowned expert in quantum materials. Her stay marks the start of a planned series of visiting appointments aimed at deepening international collaboration in energy research.
Scientific Presence and First Events
RC FEMS made its first public appearance on the scientific stage in September 2025 with the “Future Energy Materials and Systems” conference. Researchers from the Research Center presented their work on materials for energy generation and storage – ranging from electrochemical systems to machine learning and quantum materials. Partner institutions showcased ongoing projects alongside the conference.
In October, the RC FEMS seminar series began, offering regular insights into the research of individual groups – both on-site across UA Ruhr campuses and online. The series also includes workshops for early-career researchers on science communication, Science Slams, and a dedicated retreat, supporting the next generation of scientists.
Strategic Development and Shared Vision
Seven professorships have now been filled at RC FEMS, including positions in Quantum Materials, Functional Ferroic Systems, and Artificial Intelligence for Integrated Material Science. These appointments form the scientific backbone of the Research Center, connecting theoretical, experimental, and data-driven approaches.
With this structure, RC FEMS creates the foundation to integrate material design, simulation, and application – from quantitative analysis of atomic processes to the development of scalable process and energy technologies.
Research Alliance Ruhr