How do research ideas become concrete applications? What role do functional surfaces play in innovations in medicine, industry, and everyday life? And how can we bring science, business, and politics even closer together? These questions were the focus of the GRAVOmer Summer Festival 2026, which took place on June 24 at the Leibniz IOM.
Under the motto “Experiencing and Designing Surfaces”, the IOM welcomed guests from the worlds of science, business, politics, and funding to a varied afternoon featuring expert presentations, discussions, pitches, lab tours, and many opportunities for personal interaction.
Following the welcome address by the GRAVOmer Executive Board, the IOM’s Administrative Director, Dr. Daniel Strecker, also warmly welcomed the participants to the institute with a brief overview of the IOM. Dr. Ulrike Helmstedt, Head of the “Barrier and Precision Coatings” research field and a member of the GRAVOmer steering committee, then looked back on the WIR! project GRAVOmer and highlighted how the network has developed over the past few years.
The pitches from the IOM, among other things, provided interesting insights into the research: Claudia Hackl, a research associate in the “Biocompatible and Bioactive Surfaces” research field, presented functionalized, microstructured polymer films for biomedical applications using UVimprinting. Dr. Markus Anton, a research associate in the cross-section unit “Material Characterization and Analytics”, opened up new perspectives on functional coating systems with his presentation titled “A New Look at Thin Films.”
Further inspiration came from expert presentations on current developments in materials and surface research, as well as from the panel discussion on knowledge transfer between science, industry, and politics. The presentation of the new interactive CUBEs “Experience Functional Surfaces Digitally” by HTWK Leipzig and the award ceremony for the micro-competition in cooperation with Burg Giebichenstein also demonstrated the diverse ways in which the GRAVOmer network connects research, creativity, and application.
This was particularly evident during the laboratory tours at the IOM led by Dr. Gregor Dornberg and Dr. Patrick C. With. Here, guests were able to experience firsthand the research being conducted at the institute in the areas of “Ultra-Precision Surfaces” and “Barrier and Precision Coatings”, as well as how surface technologies are being further developed for specific applications.
The get-together that followed provided ample opportunity for conversation, making new connections, and sharing ideas. The GRAVOmer Summer Festival at the IOM made it clear: innovation arises where people, perspectives, and technologies come together.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the organizers from both host institutions, whose great dedication made possible a diverse program and a successful setting for exchange, networking, and new insights.