Automation and AI in Materials Research
- Start: Nov 12, 2026
- End: Nov 13, 2026
- Location: Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart
- Room: 2D5
- Host: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
- Contact: aamr-symposium@fkf.mpg.de
The Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research explores new frontiers in the chemistry and physics of solids in both theory and experiment. To support the institute’s strategic focus on quantum and energy materials, the integration of robotics and AI into data-driven, self-driving laboratories marks the next frontier in accelerating materials discovery and development in solid-state research. The Symposium aims to bring together leading researchers at the intersection of materials science, automation, and AI to exchange recent advances, discuss future directions, and foster new collaborations.
Registration
We invite all interested reserach groups to join the symposium. For a better organization, we kindly ask all participants to register for the symposium via this link. The registration will open on 15th September and will close on 23th October.
The symposium is free to attend! Please note that participants need to arrange their own transportation and accommodation. Breakfast and lunch are available at our canteen and can be paid by cash or card.
For any questions regarding the registration, please contact us here before registering.
Confirmed speakers
| Speaker | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Abdon Pena-Francesch | University of Michigan |
| Berend Smit | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne |
| Curtis Berlinguette | University of British Columbia |
| Eric McCalla | McGill University |
| John Kitchen | Carnegie Mellon University |
| Karsten Reuter | Fritz Haber Institute |
| Kerstin Thurow | University of Rostock |
| Martin Winter | Lab Automation Network |
| Mathias Niepert | University of Stuttgart |
| Milard Abolhasani | North Carolina State University |
Pascal Friederich | Karlsruhe Institute of Technology |
| Shijing Sun | University of Cambridge |
| Taylor Sparks | University of Utah |
| Tejs Vegge | Technical University of Denmark |
| Wassim Saeidi | United Robotics Group |
Preliminary Program
Thursday - 12th November 2026
8:30 AM | Registration |
|---|---|
| 9:00 - 9:10 AM | Bernhard Keimer Welcome |
| 9:10 - 9:30 AM | Bettina Lotsch tba |
Session 1 | Artificial Intelligence in Material Science |
| 9:30 - 10:10 AM | Pascal Friederich AI for Self-Driving Materials Labs - New Approaches and Open Challenges |
| 10:10 - 10:50 AM | John Kitchin tba |
10:50 AM | Coffee break |
| 11:20 - 12:00 AM | Mathias Niepert tba |
Session 2 | Insights from Industry |
| 12:00 - 12:15 AM | Martin Winter tba |
| 12:15 - 12:30 AM | Wassim Saeidi tba |
12:30 AM | Lunch |
Session 3 | Theory & Simulation |
| 2:00 - 2:40 PM | Berend Smit tba |
| 2:40 - 3:20 PM | Tjes Vegge tba |
| 3:20 - 4:00PM | Karsten Reuter Digital Catalysis beyond Optimization |
4:00 - 4:40 PM | Coffee break |
Session 4 | Self-driving laboratories (part 1) |
| 4:40 - 5:20 PM | Milard Abolhasani Building Laboratories That Learn: Self-Driving Platforms for Accelerated Materials Discovery |
| 5:20 - 6:00 PM | Kerstin Thurow From Trial and Error to Smart Crystallization |
6:00 PM | End of public program |
| 8:00 PM | Scientific discussion & institute tour |
Friday - 13th November 2026
8:30 AM | Registration |
|---|---|
Session 5 | Self-driving laboratories (part 2) |
| 9:00 - 9:40 AM | Curtis Berliguette tba |
| 9:40 - 10:20 AM | Taylor Sparks Enough Predictions: Putting Materials AI to Work in Self-Driving Labs |
| 10:20 - 11:00 AM | Eric McCalla Accelerated design of battery materials |
11:00 AM | Coffee break |
| 11:30 - 12:10 AM | Shijing Sun tba |
| 12:10 - 12:50 AM | Abdon Pena-Francesch tba |
| 12:50 AM - 1:00 PM | Bettina Lotsch Closing remarks |
| 1:00 PM | Lunch |