Aalborg University contributes with the Materials Science and Engineering group in the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. This group consists of 10 full-time professors and associate professors, 8 visiting professors, Post Docs and several PhD students in the field of materials science and nanomaterials. The group is specialized in manufacturing, characterization and modelling of materials from molecular dynamics to structural mechanics and optimization. Recent large European research projects have focused especially on nanomaterials and polymers. Prof. Christiansen was coordinator of the FP7 project Nanotough and is the coordinator of the currently active EVolution FP7 Project. In addition, the group also participated in the NANCORE FP7 project. Besides large international projects, the group has a great experience in national projects in collaboration with the industry and the proposed research project would ensure future industrial benefit from collaboration and use of facilities. 

AAUs materials labs hold state-of-the-art equipment and are competitive with most top labs internationally. Current equipment covers polymer processing equipment from twin screw micro compounding, twin screw compounding and micromoulding to full-scale 100 ton injection moulding, dynamical mechanical testing equipment, and several rheometers: Oscillatory, capillary and extensional, surface rheometry, SALS, dielectric spectroscopy, PVT, extensional rheometry from fibre spinning, die swell, thermal conductivity, DSC with TG, burst TG, FTIR, FTIR – ATR, FTIR microscopy and micro ATR, Raman microscopy, X-ray tomography, SEM, chemical synthesis equipment (ultracentrifuge, chemical reactors etc.), and of course a full range of mechanical testing equipment to cover a wide range of deformation rates from instrumented impact machines and cannons in one end, to tensile testing machines and micromechanical equipment placed under SEM in the other end. Furthermore Dynamic Mechanical Analysis and Dynamic Thermomechanical Analysis (DMA, TMA). 

AAU will have three major roles in the project. Firstly, it will be participating in the RD tracks where we for each have a substantial experience. Secondly, AAU will participate in the fast tracks, providing input to solve industrial problems. Thirdly, ensuring that knowledge gained will lead to research and knowledge dissemination in the form of e.g. publications and education of students and young researchers to the benefit of the industry in general, thus ensuring that the results gained in the project reaches beyond the timescale of the project. The national importance of this project means strengthening of the two strongest groups within industrial materials research and manufacturing (on DTU and AAU) and creating a National Materials Portal that will lead to a number of other activities beyond this project with other partners; e.g. industrial PhDs. 

Approx. 37,500 people in the organization, hereof 5,680 employees + 6,500 employees on the Aalborg University Hospital, 25,305 students in total including international and part-time students.