IMDEA Materials Institute has unveiled its inaugural internal Proof-of-Concept (PoC) call, Materialise 2025, an ambitious initiative designed to address one of the most significant challenges in the journey from research to market: the so-called “valley of death.”
Backed by €50,000 in funding, and support from external consultants and assistance from IMDEA Materials’ Technology Transfer and Innovation Office, this program aims to de-risk early-stage research by developing its commercial potential and transforming it into practical applications or commercial products.
Research often falls short of reaching industries and investors due to the gap between exploratory work and the level of readiness or confidence required for commercial uptake.
Materialise 2025 is set to bridge this gap by offering support, not only for developing prototypes and validating technologies, but also for addressing non-technological aspects like intellectual property (IP) strategies, customer discovery, and defining use cases.
The ultimate goal is to enable pathways such as spin-offs, license agreements, and partnerships, strengthening the Institute’s position in technology transfer.
“Materialise 2025 is a clear commitment to driving technology transfer and supporting our researchers in overcoming the ‘valley of death,’” said Miguel Ángel Rodiel, Director of Projects and Technology at IMDEA Materials.
“With this initiative, we aim to contribute to the transformation of scientific knowledge into concrete solutions with industrial and social impact,” he added.
Funding one project with a maximum duration of one year, the initiative focuses on advancing technologies from Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) of 2-3 to TRLs of 4-5, demonstrating proof of concept and validation in relevant environments.
The initiative is set to follow a structured timeline, with the call opening on February 1, 2025, and applications due by April 1 of the same year. Proposals will undergo rigorous evaluation, with results announced by June 1, 2025, enabling projects to start as early as the same month.
Eligible applicants include all researchers and technical staff at IMDEA Materials who meet specific employment and project alignment criteria. Proposals must build on prior IMDEA Materials research results, emphasising the development and validation of technology with commercial potential.
This program is the first step in what the Institute envisions as a recurring series of calls, depending on budget availability.
By providing this critical funding and support, Materialise 2025 aims to empower IMDEA Materials researchers to overcome the valley of death, accelerating the transition from promising research to impactful innovations and solidifying the Institute’s reputation as a leader in materials science.
For more information, requirements and associated application documents, see: https://materials.imdea.org/call-2025/.
