Who We Are

Two Research Sites, One Shared Vision

The Convergence Center for Living Multifunctional Material Systems (LiMC²)  is a research partnership between Penn State University and the University of Freiburg and is focused on materials discovery, in particular, the research focus is to design sustainable materials that are biological or inspired by biological principles. LiMC² brings together researchers from both universities in collaborative projects, seed grants, and research exchange programs. The center’s members perform research toward a common goal: to develop material systems, which adapt autonomously to changes in the environment, are robust and resilient so that they can survive even adverse conditions, harvest their energy from the environment, and consist of sustainable components.

LiMC² combines the expertise of two strong partners to advance the science, technologies, policies, and practices needed for a sustainable world by accelerating the development of a new class of engineered living materials. In contrast to the largely static materials whose properties remain more or less constant throughout their lifetime, the envisioned materials systems respond to a changing environment by adapting their properties – not unlike living organisms.

The center crosses disciplinary and institutional boundaries and integrates biology, chemistry, soft matter science, sustainability research, process engineering, architecture, energy materials research, physics, and micro/nano systems engineering to generate novel materials for a more sustainable future.

Potential applications range from adaptive architecture and infrastructure, systems for CO₂ drawdown, to robotics technologies, electronics, optics, and medical care. These envisioned novel material systems respond to the global challenges of our time and pave the way to a sustainable society.