Where do research interests overlap, and what opportunities are there for collaboration? These questions were at the heart of the first exchange between the IOM and the Center for the Transformation of Chemistry (CTC) on 15 October 2026. The institute welcomed Dr. Marco Zimmermann, Head of Strategy & Governance, and Dr. Theodore Tyrikos-Ergas, Head of the CTC’s Talent Factory.

The IOM provided insights into its research – from the targeted fabrication and modification of functional surfaces to their characterisation, modelling and simulation. Together, the participants explored how their scientific interests complement one another and where opportunities for collaboration might emerge.

The CTC is being established as a large-scale research centre in central Germany to drive the chemical industry’s transition towards a sustainable circular economy. Its work focuses, among other areas, on renewable feedstocks, recycling and data-driven chemistry. Within its Talent Factory, independent research groups develop new ideas at the interface between fundamental research and application.