Excellent and internationally visible

With a celebratory event at the Center for Applied Research (ZAF), Friedrich Schiller University Jena commemorated the 15th anniversary of the Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM) on November 17, 2025. More than 120 guests and members gathered to celebrate the center's development and to discuss future prospects for soft matter research in Jena.

In his welcoming address, Dr. Bernd Uwe Althaus, State Secretary in the Thuringian Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, emphasized the "outstanding importance of the JCSM for science, innovation, and knowledge transfer in Jena and Thuringia."

University President Prof. Dr. Andreas Marx highlighted the role of the JCSM in the University of Jena's current application for funding under the Excellence Universities program: "The JCSM stands for internationally recognized cutting-edge research and strategic networking. This strength is a key component of our Excellence Strategy."

Strong alliances and successful spin-offs

The role of interdisciplinary collaborations was emphasized by Prof. Dr. Michael Bauer from Uniklinikum Jena. Using the Collaborative Research Center SFB 1278 "PolyTarget" as an example, he illustrated how collaborative projects enable new scientific insights and simultaneously open pathways to application.

Another example of successful collaboration was presented by Prof. Dr. Holger Ruckdäschel (University of Bayreuth) and Prof. Dr. Stefan Leible, President of the University of Bayreuth, with the JointLab for Polymers Jena–Bayreuth. The joint Research Training Group GRK 3040 "COIN" is just the beginning of further planned collaborations.

The transfer strength of the JCSM was demonstrated by three startups in a pitch format: SmartDyeLivery GmbH, Polytives GmbH, and NGP Polymers GmbH. They exemplify a dynamic entrepreneurial culture that has emerged from many years of research.

Balance sheet of a successful research center

Professor Dr. Ulrich S. Schubert, spokesperson for the JCSM Directorate, outlined the center's development since its founding. Long-term support from the university, the Free State of Thuringia, and the Carl Zeiss Foundation made the center's growth possible. Investments in new buildings and infrastructure totaling over €40 million, as well as investments in equipment exceeding €13 million, formed the basis for more than 1,000 scientific publications, 50 patent applications, and over €130 million in third-party funding.

"The JCSM demonstrates how consistent support and the strategic pooling of expertise can raise the international profile of a research field," said Schubert.

Keynote address with a broader perspective

Following the poster session and discussions, Prof. Dr. Rainer Haag (Free University of Berlin) delivered a keynote address offering insights into interdisciplinary polymer research in Berlin – from large infrastructure projects to spin-off companies at the interface of chemistry, biology, physics, and medicine.

The celebratory event concluded with further discussions, a continuation of the poster session, and guided tours, underscoring the vibrant, interconnected research landscape that has shaped the JCSM over the past 15 years.

In the picture above (from left to right): Prof. Dr. Rainer Haag (FU Berlin), Dr. Anja Traeger (Friedrich Schiller University Jena), Prof. Dr. Stefan Leible (President of the University of Bayreuth), Prof. Dr. Andreas Marx (President of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena), Dr. Stephanie Schubert (Managing Director of the spin-off NGP Polymers GmbH), Prof. Dr. Holger Ruckdäschel (University of Bayreuth), Dr. Bernd Uwe Althaus (State Secretary of the Thuringian Ministry of Education, Science and Culture), Prof. Dr. Michael Bauer (Uniklinikum Jena), Prof. Dr. Ute Hellmich (Friedrich Schiller University Jena), Prof. Dr. Ulrich S. Schubert (Friedrich Schiller University Jena)