Functional materials, thus materials, providing more than strength, toughness and corrosion resistance, become more and more present in our daily lives. They are being used in sensor systems frequently. Functional materials can be found in solar cells, mobile phones, modern TVs, bio-implants and for active noise cancellation. Multifunctional window panes witch active noise reduction are already field of research in Clausthal. The new institution matches the activities of the CZM (Clausthaler Zentrum für Materialtechnik - Clausthal Centre of Material Technology)

The new campus is a scientific research association of the Clausthal University of Technology, in which the university collaborates with the DLR (Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt - German Aerospace Centre) and the BAM (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung - Federal Institute for Material Research and Testing).

The objective is to develop functional materials and structures for adaptive, efficient manufactured, tolerant lightweight structures to initiate even major research projects. About a dozen research topics have already been acquired, for example zinc oxide systems, transparent piezoelectric ceramics and additive manufacturing. The new campus offers common utilization of equipment, staff and know-how. Furthermore the competences of the three involved institutions complement each other. An additional focus shall be set to the education of young academics.