Unifying Systems in Catalysis

Learning to understand and utilise catalysis networks

More than 85 per cent of all products come into contact with a catalyst during production. Catalysis research is therefore not only one of the most important areas of research in chemistry, it is also the main driver for "green chemistry", which focuses on sustainability and resource conservation. The UniSysCat Cluster of Excellence applied for by the Technische Universit?t Berlin will play a key role here in Germany and can build on ten years of outstanding work by UniCat, the predecessor cluster from the Excellence Initiative. Individual catalytic reactions have already been well researched. The aim now is to decipher reaction networks in chemical and biological catalysis in space and time so that these can then be controlled and, above all, simulated. Which key parameters enable and control chemocatalytic and biocatalytic networks? How can chemical and/or biological processes be coupled to create catalytic systems with new functions? These are the central research questions of UniSysCat.

"We are delighted about the approval of the cluster and the opportunity to conduct innovative research," says Arne Thomas, Professor of Functional Materials at Technische Universit?t Berlin and one of three UniSysCat spokespersons. "We will work on the wide range of topics in five interdisciplinary research fields. The aim is to gain a fundamental understanding of how starting materials, intermediates and reaction products come into precise contact with the various catalysts involved," explains Juri Rappsilber, another cluster spokesperson and Professor of Bioanalytics at Technische Universit?t Berlin. Among other things, the scientists can build on a wide range of experimental and theoretical methods from the predecessor cluster UniCat.

Structurally, UniSysCat has set itself three main goals: Firstly, it is about the sustainable promotion of young scientists. The young doctoral candidates work in an outstanding research environment, such as in the further development of the former cluster-internal graduate school BIG-NSE 2.0 (Berlin International Graduate School of Natural Sciences and Engineering) as part of the Einstein Centre for Catalysis (EC2). Targeted recruitment strategies, including internationally competitive tenure options and the Chemical Invention Factory (CIF) to promote spin-offs and start-ups, open up various career paths for young researchers. "We want to optimally prepare young scientists for their professional careers within and outside the university," emphasises Maria Andrea Mroginki, Professor of "Modelling Biomolecular Systems" and third spokesperson for the cluster.

The second strategic goal is equal opportunities for women in science and increasing the proportion of women in professorships and in the qualification phase after the doctorate.

The third focus is the expansion of national and international collaborations, as Arne Thomas explains: "As a large network, we are endeavouring to cooperate with other large networks, such as other clusters of excellence, and to develop joint projects with them."