The Helmholtz Research Program MSE (Materials Systems Engineering) is developing and integrating information-based techniques in material design, development and processing as a major asset for future breakthroughs.

Information-driven materials interface design, in particular of nanomaterials, biomaterials and advanced engineering materials, offers great potential for future technological applications by tuning the materials properties beyond the design of bulk microstructures via the functionalization of surfaces and control of interfaces.

In addition to KIT, the Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon are involved in the program.

• Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI)
• Institute for Applied Materials – Applied Materials Physics (IAM-AWP)
• Institute for Applied Materials – Energy Storage Systems (IAM-ESS)
• Institute for Applied Materials – Mechanics of Materials and Interfaces (IAM-MMI)
• Institute for Applied Materials – Materials Science and Engineering (IAM-WK)
• Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems – Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS)
• Institute for Biological Interfaces 1 –  Biomolecular Micro- and Nanostructures (IBG-1) "Niemeyer Lab"
• Institute for Biological Interfaces 3 – Macromolecular Materials (IBG-3)
• Institute for Biological Interfaces 4 – Magnetic Resonance (IBG-4)
• Institute for Biological Interfaces 5 – Biotechnology and Microbial Genetics (IBG-5)
• Institute of Functional Interfaces (IFG)
• Institute of Microstructure Technology (IMT)
• Institute of Nanotechnology (INT)
• Institute for Data Processing and Electronics (IPE)