In modern society, advanced and functional materials are a part of our everyday life. Materials are all around us: from the anti-reflective coating on your windows or spectacles, the battery that powers your smartphone, to the cement that holds your house together.
But behind every material lies a story of science, engineering, and innovation. Material research is the field that explores how materials are discovered, designed, improved, and applied, from the atomic scale to real-world technologies. And some materials go even further: when they are tailored to offer entirely new or enhanced functionalities, they are called advanced materials. At AU Materials, we work across disciplines to develop and understand these materials, creating solutions that contribute to cleaner energy, more efficient production, and sustainable technologies.
This section introduces the foundations of material research and advanced materials, and shows how our work aligns with broader global goals, including the European Union's green and digital agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Get an overview of how material research brings together theory, experimentation, and application and why this science is essential to progress in energy, healthcare, industry, and sustainability.
Find out what qualifies a material as “advanced,” and explore examples that enable technological progress in areas like clean energy, electronics, and sustainable production.
Advanced materials are central to Europe’s strategy for climate neutrality, digital leadership, and industrial resilience. Explore how research at Aarhus University aligns with this vision of sustainability, innovation, and reduced dependency on critical raw materials.
🌍 UN Sustainable Development Goals
The UN Sustainable Development Goals provide a global framework for addressing urgent societal and environmental challenges. iMAT’s research contributes to a broad range of these goals by advancing materials, promoting responsible production, and supporting innovation.
