The Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden in Dresden (german: Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung) – in short IPF Dresden – is a non-university

research institute A research institute, research centre, research center or research organization, is an establishment founded for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research. Although the term often i ...

and a member of the Leibniz Association. The IPF is carrying out fundamental as well as application-oriented research in all areas of polymer science and investigates polymer materials with new or improved characteristics. In the material development, emphasis is given to

nanotechnological Nanotechnology, also shortened to nanotech, is the use of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale for industrial purposes. The earliest, widespread description of nanotechnology referred to the particular technological goal o ...

aspects as well as to biosystem interfaces. The research spectrum of the institute is very broad. It ranges from synthesis, analysis and modification of polymers to theory, modeling and processing of polymers. The institute's research results provide the basis for innovations in future technologies such as communication technology, medical technology, traffic engineering, energy generation and storage, and environment protection technologies.

Research

The IPF’s research program is jointly set up and implemented by researchers of the different IPF institutes. They address six strategic topics: # Basic concepts of soft matter # Bio-inspired materials # Functional materials and system integration # Process controlled structural materials # Data science-based material research # Sustainability and environment protection

Structure

The IPF consists of five research institutes (program areas) *Institute Macromolecular Chemistry, Director: Prof. Dr.

Brigitte Voit Brigitte Voit (born 1963 in Bayreuth) is a German chemist and professor of chemistry. She holds the chair Organic Chemistry of Polymers at the Faculty of Chemistry of the TU Dresden and is head of the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry at the ...

*Institute of Physical Chemistry and Polymer Physics, Director: Prof. Dr. Andreas Fery * Institute of Polymer Materials, Director: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Stommel **Research Area Elastomers, Head: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sven Wießner *Institute for Biofunctional Polymer Materials, Director: Prof. Dr. Carsten Werner * Institute Theory of Polymers, Director: Prof. Dr. Jens-Uwe Sommer

Cooperation/Networks

Close ties exists to the TU Dresden, one of eleven universities distinguished as a "University of Excellence" by the German Universities Excellence Initiative. Due to joint appointments, the heads of the institutes and the research area simultaneously hold professorships at the Technische Universität Dresden (Faculties of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Physics as well as Mechanical Science and Engineering). About 100 PhD students are permanently integrated in the research at the IPF and numerous diploma, master and bachelor theses are worked out and supervised here. Common projects include the Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) and the Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (CfAED)., the B CUBE - Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, the so called Cluster of Excellence "Physics of Life", and the Else Kröner-Fresenius Center for Digital Health. The IPF is together with TU Dresden and other research institutes in Dresden member of the research alliance DRESDEN-concept that was founded due to the German Universities Excellence Initiative mentioned above.

History

The IPF Dresden was founded on January 1, 1992 emerging from the largest polymer research center of the former

GDR East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...

, which was at the time already internationally acknowledged. Since then the IPF Dresden developed into a leading institute in selected topics of polymer science. As all Leibniz institutes, the IPF is evaluated at least every seven years. The last successful evaluation took place in 2015.

Personnel/Budget

At present the IPF employs about 480 people. Scientists (chemists, physicists, biologists) and engineers work closely together. About 100 guest scientists from all over the world come every year for some weeks or months to work at the IPF. The institute supports young researchers, e.g. in establishing independent research groups. The annual budget of about 26 Million Euro is supplied in equal parts by the Federal Republic of Germany and the German federal states. In addition to institutional funding the IPF Dresden raises project resources of about 10 Million Euro per year.

Technology Transfer

In order to promote the transfer of research results into practice, the institute engages in technology transfer, promotes spin-offs and cooperates with industrial companies.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden 1992 establishments in Germany Research institutes established in 1992 Foundations based in Germany Chemistry education Leibniz Association Education in Dresden 1948 establishments in Germany Research institutes established in 1948