{"id":12,"date":"2026-09-26T12:26:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-26T12:26:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cost-informat.eu\/?page_id=12"},"modified":"2026-09-26T12:26:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T12:26:08","slug":"welcome-to-informat","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cost-informat.eu\/welcome-to-informat\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome to INFORMat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"wp-block-group alignfull inf-section has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" id=\"challenge\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group inf-section-head is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"inf-eyebrow wp-block-paragraph\">The challenge<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Today\u2019s materials react. They don\u2019t decide.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"inf-lede wp-block-paragraph\">Stimuli-responsive materials follow a simple if-then logic: change the temperature or pH and they switch. The missing ingredient is the one that underpins all biological life, embedded feedback control. INFORMat integrates chemical reaction networks directly within and upon soft material interfaces.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"inf-vs\">\n <div class=\"inf-vs-card\"><span class=\"k\">State of the art<\/span><h3>Responsive matter<\/h3>\n  <ul><li>Reacts to single, simple cues such as pH, light or temperature<\/li><li>Open loop: switched <em>by<\/em> its environment<\/li><li>No memory and no self-regulation<\/li><li>Scattered prototypes without a common framework<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n <div class=\"inf-vs-arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2192<\/div>\n <div class=\"inf-vs-card to\"><span class=\"k\">The INFORMat frontier<\/span><h3>Intelligent matter<\/h3>\n  <ul><li>Interrogates complex, combined signals<\/li><li>Closed loop: senses, decides, acts and checks<\/li><li>Chemical reaction networks embedded at interfaces<\/li><li>Shared definitions and rational design rules<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-group alignfull inf-section is-surface has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" id=\"working-groups\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group inf-section-head is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"inf-eyebrow wp-block-paragraph\">Working groups<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sense, decide, talk, move<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"inf-lede wp-block-paragraph\">Four scientific working groups map onto the closed loop of an intelligent material. A fifth, IMPACT, carries the Action into education, industry and society.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group inf-wgs is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<details class=\"wp-block-details inf-wg wg1 is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" open><summary><strong>WG1<\/strong>Sense <em>Advanced sensing capabilities<\/em><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Develop chemical sensors that detect specific or combined cues such as pH, ionic strength, light, temperature, gradients and mechanical stress. Reliable sensing at low concentrations, and coupling of different stimuli, needs new materials, new chemistry and the links between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"inf-tags wp-block-paragraph\">DNA sensing \u00b7 supramolecular sensors \u00b7 molecular switches \u00b7 signal amplification \u00b7 conductive polymers \u00b7 optical and conducting fibres<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a class=\"inf-arrow-link\" href=\"\/working-groups\/sense\/\">WG1 page<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details inf-wg wg2 is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>WG2<\/strong>Decide <em>Information processing in soft materials<\/em><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Build the chemical capability for local information processing and decision-making. Reaction networks show behaviour from bistability and oscillation to history-dependent decisions; kinetic modelling and automated platforms help embed them in materials that pattern, remember and choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"inf-tags wp-block-paragraph\">organic and inorganic CRNs \u00b7 biochemical networks \u00b7 formose reactions \u00b7 microfluidic channels \u00b7 CSTRs \u00b7 batch reactors<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a class=\"inf-arrow-link\" href=\"\/working-groups\/decide\/\">WG2 page<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details inf-wg wg3 is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>WG3<\/strong>Talk <em>Controlled signalling in soft matter<\/em><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Develop chemical signal cascades embedded in soft materials that transmit information autonomously. Like a flock of birds or the arms of an octopus, coordination needs sending, receiving and interpreting signals in a noisy environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"inf-tags wp-block-paragraph\">signalling within hydrogels \u00b7 vesicle and polymersome exchange \u00b7 controlled propagation \u00b7 programmed release kinetics<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a class=\"inf-arrow-link\" href=\"\/working-groups\/talk\/\">WG3 page<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details inf-wg wg4 is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>WG4<\/strong>Move <em>Chemo-mechanical coupling in soft matter<\/em><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Develop soft actuators whose motion is controlled by chemical feedback. Designing for feedback lets simpler actuators perform richer, directional motion in time and space through chemo-mechanical and mechano-chemical coupling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"inf-tags wp-block-paragraph\">hydrogel actuators \u00b7 liquid-crystalline elastomers \u00b7 self-regulation \u00b7 homeostasis \u00b7 non-reciprocal and directional motion<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a class=\"inf-arrow-link\" href=\"\/working-groups\/move\/\">WG4 page<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details inf-wg wg5 is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong>WG5<\/strong>Impact <em>Strategy, outreach, education and growth<\/em><\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grow the network, drive consortium grants and policy work, run the annual event, lead public engagement, and build an EU-wide open-education framework for a field that has no unified curriculum yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"inf-tags is-outputs wp-block-paragraph\">open educational resources \u00b7 public-engagement toolkits \u00b7 curriculum framework \u00b7 communication and media \u00b7 network expansion<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a class=\"inf-arrow-link\" href=\"\/working-groups\/impact\/\">WG5 page<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-group alignfull inf-section has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" id=\"industry\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group inf-section-head is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"inf-eyebrow wp-block-paragraph\">For industry &amp; stakeholders<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Built with industry from day one<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"inf-lede wp-block-paragraph\">The Industrial Partnership Committee matches academic partners with industrial experts, runs valorisation training and supports spin-offs, with a special focus on ITC partners, SMEs and start-ups. Target: at least 20 industry representatives, 6 co-created use-cases and 3 expert workshops.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"inf-roles\"><div class=\"inf-role\"><b>Human\u2013machine interfaces<\/b><span>Self-regulating, tactile surfaces for prosthetics and wearables<\/span><\/div><div class=\"inf-role\"><b>Autonomous soft robots<\/b><span>Shape and motion that adapt without external control<\/span><\/div><div class=\"inf-role\"><b>Self-diagnostic sensors<\/b><span>Point-of-care devices that process chemical information<\/span><\/div><div class=\"inf-role\"><b>UN SDGs 3, 4 and 9<\/b><span>Health, quality education, industry and innovation<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-group alignfull inf-section is-surface has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" id=\"governance\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group inf-section-head is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"inf-eyebrow wp-block-paragraph\">Governance<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the network runs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"inf-lede wp-block-paragraph\">A Management Committee steers the Action, supported by seven committees and the Talent Network. At least half of all leadership roles go to women and researchers from Inclusiveness Target Countries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"inf-gov\">\n <div>\n  <h3>Leadership<\/h3>\n  <p>The Management Committee elects the Action\u2019s leadership at the kick-off meeting on 1 November 2026. Names appear here after the vote.<\/p>\n  <div class=\"inf-roles\">\n   <div class=\"inf-role\"><b>Chair<\/b><span>Elected at kick-off<\/span><\/div>\n   <div class=\"inf-role\"><b>Vice-Chair<\/b><span>Elected at kick-off<\/span><\/div>\n   <div class=\"inf-role\"><b>WG1\u2013WG5 leaders<\/b><span>Elected at kick-off<\/span><\/div>\n   <div class=\"inf-role\"><b>Grant Holder<\/b><span>Institution to be confirmed<\/span><\/div>\n   <div class=\"inf-role\"><b>Science Communication<\/b><span>Coordinator, with DPEC<\/span><\/div>\n   <div class=\"inf-role\"><b>2 YRI + 2 industry seats<\/b><span>On the Management Committee<\/span><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <div>\n  <h3>Committees<\/h3>\n  <ul class=\"inf-comms\">\n   <li><abbr title=\"Conference Committee\">CC<\/abbr><span><b>Conference<\/b> \u00b7 kick-off, annual hybrid events, webinars<\/span><\/li>\n   <li><abbr title=\"STSM Committee\">STSM<\/abbr><span><b>Mobility<\/b> \u00b7 runs and evaluates STSM calls<\/span><\/li>\n   <li><abbr title=\"Training Committee\">TC<\/abbr><span><b>Training<\/b> \u00b7 schools and training activities<\/span><\/li>\n   <li><abbr title=\"Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee\">DEI<\/abbr><span><b>Diversity, equity &amp; inclusion<\/b> \u00b7 ITC and target-group recruitment<\/span><\/li>\n   <li><abbr title=\"Industrial Partnership Committee\">IPC<\/abbr><span><b>Industrial partnership<\/b> \u00b7 industry contacts and valorisation<\/span><\/li>\n   <li><abbr title=\"Dissemination and Public Engagement Committee\">DPEC<\/abbr><span><b>Dissemination<\/b> \u00b7 outreach, media and this website<\/span><\/li>\n   <li><abbr title=\"Ethics Committee\">EC<\/abbr><span><b>Ethics<\/b> \u00b7 risks of assistive tech, wearables and robots<\/span><\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The challenge Today\u2019s materials react. They don\u2019t decide. Stimuli-responsive materials follow a simple if-then logic: change the temperature or pH and they switch. The missing ingredient is the one that underpins all biological life, embedded feedback control. INFORMat integrates chemical reaction networks directly within and upon soft material interfaces. State of the art Responsive matter [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-12","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cost-informat.eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cost-informat.eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cost-informat.eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cost-informat.eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cost-informat.eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cost-informat.eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13,"href":"https:\/\/cost-informat.eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12\/revisions\/13"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cost-informat.eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}