Science unites people – irrespective of the general political climate. At the beginning of March 2016, a German-Russian research cooperation in engineering, funded by the DFG, is being launched for the first time. For a period of presumably six years, three German and four Russian research groups will jointly enter uncharted territory in the field of magnetic hybrid materials. The initiator and spokesperson for this unique nationwide programme is Prof. Stefan Odenbach, Chair of Magnetofluiddynamics, Measuring and Automation Technology at TU Dresden. In Germany, two research groups at TU Dresden and one group at TU Ilmenau will participate. Their undertaking is financially supported by DFG funds. In Russia, universities in Yekaterinburg, Moscow and Perm will partake in the programme, financed by the Russian funding institution RFFI (Russian Foundation for Basic Research – RFBR).

In this project a transnational research group, with 25 participating scientists, will be established.  The Russian research groups will contribute their specialised expertise in the area of the theory of magnetic hybrid materials, whereas the focal point of the German groups is on mechanical and magnetic characterisation, microstructure analysis and the technical application of these novel materials. 

The programme’s goal is to create magnetically controlled elastic materials and to use them for customised sensory applications. “The three years, during which we held preliminary and preparatory talks now lead us to a new quality of cooperation with the Russian colleagues, which has already been excellent for decades”, states Prof. Odenbach on the occasion of the programme launch.

“The now commencing, intensive cooperation with distinguished scientists from both countries and the funding by two organisations will be implemented in particular by the established institutional cooperation between DFG and RFFI.”, says Dr. Jörn Achterberg, Head of DFG Moscow Office.

“This promising endeavour is a positive result of a joint workshop in Moscow between DFG and RFFI, where impetuses for divers coordinated research projects were given.” says Dr. Michael Lentze, responsible Programme Director at the DFG.

Media inquiries:
Prof. Stefan Odenbach
Tel.: +49 (0) 351 463-32062