The LIBER Centre of Excellence

Centre of Excellence in Life Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER)
The Centre of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER) was funded by the Research Council of Finland via the Centre of Excellence Programme 2022-2029.
LIBER aims to create dynamic and soft hybrid materials with life-like properties such as the capability to learn, adapt, or respond to the environment. The main objectives of the LIBER CoE are to develop:
- Autonomous and interactive materials, in which materials are designed and synthesized to have, e.g., triggerable memory, functions inspired by learning and adaptation behavior, and mechano-responsive signals.
- Nonequilibrium functions and mechanisms, in the states and of formation materials, in which we will enable field-driven materials, biomolecular nonequilibrium assemblies, and self-regulated feedback-controlled materials.
- Living - nonliving interactions, to form an integrative meeting point between man-made materials and living systems, shaping a new frontier of synthetic biology.
LIBER CoE includes eight research groups from Aalto University, VTT, and Tampere University. The groups interact via regular bi-weekly seminars to share ideas and initiate collaborations. In addition, the annual symposia and workshops are arranged for training of our researchers with recent expertise and to equip them for future careers.
Website of the LIBER CoE
For more information visit the main website of LIBER Centre of Excellence
News

Prof. Robin Ras elected as member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters
Membership of the Academy is awarded to scientists distinguished in their field. Ras is an internationally prominent researcher of surfaces and wetting.
Researchers create gel that can self-heal like human skin
Until now, artificial gels have either managed to replicate this high stiffness or natural skin’s self-healing properties, but not both. Now, a team of researchers from Aalto University and the University of Bayreuth are the first to develop a hydrogel with a unique structure that overcomes earlier limitations, opening the door to applications such as drug delivery, wound healing, soft robotics sensors and artificial skin.
Get to know us: Associate Professor Maria Sammalkorpi
Sammalkorpi received her doctorate from Helsinki University of Technology 2004. After her defence, she has worked as a researcher at the Universities of Princeton, Yale and Aalto.
Bioinspired colours and adaptable materials - Professor Olli Ikkala's third EU project builds on living systems
Department of Applied Physics Professor Olli Ikkala received his third Advanced Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) on 11 April 2024. The funding amounts to €2.5 million and the project will run for five years.Contact us


