What We Do

Researching the vast potential of advanced materials let alone developing and commercializing them requires the use of expensive infrastructure, involves a lot of trial and error as well as meticulous planning. It can also cost a fortune and take decades to transition from research to real-world application. As a solution, the Materials Genome Initiative or MGI was launched in 2011 to help accelerate the development of advanced materials at a fraction of the cost.

Several federal agencies joined the effort including the National Science Foundation, which created the DMREF program, short for Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer Our Future. Today, nearly 20 federal agencies including the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, and the National Institutes of Science and Technology are part of the effort and have invested more than $1 billion in resources and infrastructure. They each strive toward developing and strengthening the country’s materials innovation infrastructure, achieving national goals with the help of advanced materials and establishing a solid foundation that will allow for continued efficient and effective use of these materials.

Learn more about DMREF including opportunities to be part of the program. Also visit the DMREF solicitation page.