MERGE: Technologies for Multifunctional Lightweight Structures

The Cluster of Excellence MERGE

Welcome to the Cluster of Excellence MERGE at Chemnitz University of Technology. For eight years now, researchers have been addressing fundamental research questions around the key technology of lightweight construction within the framework of MERGE. Its activities focus on bringing together previously separate manufacturing processes and basic technologies from the fields of plastics, metals, textiles and smart systems to develop resource-efficient products and production processes. As part of the Excellence Initiative of the German federal and state governments, MERGE was the first and only Federal Cluster of Excellence in the highly competitive field of lightweight construction to be funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) from November 1, 2012, to October 31, 2019, with approximately €40 million. The MERGE researchers are now actively working towards reapplying for a position as a Federal Cluster of Excellence in the next strategy round in 2025. Until then, the scientific discourse will continue in numerous individual projects under the umbrella of the Central Institution, thanks to financial support from the Free State of Saxony and Chemnitz University of Technology. We cordially invite you to follow the continuous development of the Cluster of Excellence MERGE here.