Strengthening Basic Research in Silicon Chemistry

With its state-of-the-art lab, the Institute of Silicon Chemistry, which occupies 500 square meters in the chemistry building of the TUM (Technical University Munich) in Garching, Germany, offers scientists ideal working conditions. Research is concentrated on the field of organofunctional silicon compounds and silicones, with their as yet incompletely explained structure-effect relationships. Other work focuses on chemical interactions in the coating of surfaces, hybrid and composite systems, silicon-based nanotechnology, materials with completely novel property profiles and pioneering catalytic processes of industrial silicon chemistry. Preferential funding is given to interdisciplinary research at the crossroads between physics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, environmental chemistry and material sciences.

Wacker Chemie AG and the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) are now extending their existing partnership in silicon chemistry for another six years. The Munich-based chemical Group is sponsoring the Institute of Silicon Chemistry, located on the research campus in Garching near Munich, with a total of up to €2.5 million. This will finance doctoral positions and the associated material resources. WACKER and the TUM founded the Institute of Silicon Chemistry in 2006. Over recent years, more than 30 research projects have been conducted, which have resulted in ten patents and 35 scientific publications in international journals.

The agreement stipulates that the doctoral positions will be allocated equally between the TUM and WACKER. For every post introduced to the institute by the TUM, WACKER finances another one including the necessary materials and equipment. In this way, over the entire term of the agreement, up to 20 doctoral candidates can work at the institute. Furthermore, the TUM is setting up a tenure-track professorship for silicon-based chemistry at the institute. This position, restricted to six years, comes with the prospect of subsequently obtaining an associate professorship. The selection process for this position is already underway.

Dr. Rudolf Staudigl, President & CEO of Wacker Chemie AG, emphasized the institute's special importance to the company's research work: "Macromolecular silicon chemistry - with its multifaceted nature and numerous unanswered questions - is a highly promising research field for establishing new operating areas and applications. There is a need for concentrated research work in this area. In this, we are happy to have a capable and internationally renowned partner in TUM - a university of excellence."

"Our continued collaboration with WACKER makes a key contribution to the strengthening of top-level research in Germany," said TUM President Prof. Wolfgang Herrmann at the signing of the agreement in Munich. "The Institute of Silicon Chemistry is an ideal interface between academic and industrial research. Such interfaces turn research results into innovations and sustainably improve people's lives," Herrmann continued. "That is why the alliance with WACKER fits in so well with an entrepreneurial university."

Prof. Bernhard Rieger, one of the world's most prominent macromolecular chemistry experts, holds the WACKER Chair and heads the institute.