DiscoveryLabNL
Autonomous Closed-Loop Experimentation for Materials Discovery
The Challenge
Artificial intelligence and high-throughput laboratory automation have the potential to fundamentally transform materials and molecular research, accelerating the optimisation of desired properties, uncovering unique parameter sets, and enabling the design of materials with unprecedented features.
This potential is widely recognised across the broader materials community, yet has also produced fragmentation: parallel, disconnected efforts that fall short of the systemic integration needed to realise AI's full scientific impact.
DiscoveryLabNL is TU/e's answer: a coherent, shared infrastructure bringing together Self-Driving Laboratories, advanced multimodal characterisation, and an AI Core facility into a unified discovery platform.
TU/e's ICMS has built nationally recognised SDL foundations through the NWO Gravitation Programme Interactive Polymer Materials (IPM) and the National Growth Fund programme Big Chemistry, establishing a proven platform for this next step.
Three Pillars
Self-Driving Laboratories
Robotic synthesis and processing platforms, automated sample handling, in-line sensing and feedback systems. AI-guided closed-loop experimentation across a hub-and-spoke network of SDL nodes.
Advanced Characterisation
Optical, electron and X-ray microscopy combined with spectroscopic techniques. Serves as the continuous, real-time verification and integration layer of the autonomous discovery loop.
AI Core Facility
FAIR data backbone, curated model catalogue, dedicated AI science team. Federated design serving the full consortium and national partners.
Campus Consortium
Four partner institutes cover the full spectrum of materials research as equal governance partners. DIFFER is an NWO institute; ICMS, EIRES, and Casimir are TU/e institutes.
ICMS
Institute for Complex Molecular Systems. Soft Matter, Supramolecular Chemistry, Synthetic Biology.
EIRES
Eindhoven Institute for Renewable Energy Systems. Energy Materials, Electrochemistry, Battery Technology.
DIFFER
Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (NWO). Plasma Physics, Fusion Materials, Energy Conversion.
Casimir
Casimir Research Institute. Semiconductors, Photonics, Quantum Technology.
Positioning
Within TU/e
Available for materials research across all TU/e departments, serving as foundational infrastructure for the 'Intelligent Materials Labs' 10-year vision of the TU/e Flagship: Advanced Materials.
Across the Netherlands
Open-access platform serving the wider Dutch materials research community, supporting national research sovereignty and EU materials autonomy objectives. National consortium formation underway with leading universities and NWO research institutes, as required for LSRI national infrastructure designation.
TU/e Investment
€20-30M indicative range. Subject to TU/e EB negotiation. Target cycle: NWO LSRI 2027.
Roadmap
Indicative timeline, subject to revision
Team
Core Leadership
Flagship Contributing Partners
Stakeholder Momentum
Strong institutional anchors, real momentum, active engagement. The concentric rings below show stakeholder commitment levels across the national materials discovery ecosystem. Click any name for details.
3 core · 7 committed · 7 in dialogue · 7 planned
Contact and Next Steps
Initiative Lead: Yuyang Wang ✉ email
Scientific Lead: Jan van Hest ✉ email
Organisation: ICMS · TU/e
This briefing is shared with TU/e internal stakeholders. We welcome colleagues who wish to contribute to shaping DiscoveryLabNL, whether scientifically or organisationally. Members of the LSRI Group Materials are particularly encouraged to reach out so we can explore alignment and collaboration opportunities together.