In the first funding period, in line with our motto ‘finer, faster, more’, we designed and synthesized novel photoinitiator systems, leading to record-sensitive inks, and thereby achieved world-record print rates of 10^8 voxel/s at deep sub-μm voxel sizes. We realized laser-printed functional sub-μm microelectronics as well as versatile micro-architectures including metamaterials and micro-stretch-benches for cell-culture studies. 3DMM2O has laid the groundwork for these applications by pioneering multi-photon laser printing of multiple materials and stimulus-responsive materials.

Thereby, we have defined the forefront of 3D printing technologies. This has positioned us well to address fascinating questions in the second funding period, including how to achieve the ultimate parallelization by directly converting a blueprint into a 3D structure. Our research program details how holographic approaches will allow us to target this goal with peak print rates of around 10^21 voxel/s – which would open the door to mass fabrication and the democratization of this technology. Holographic methods will also allow printing with living cells to form organoids in ‘one-shot’. In an ambitious approach, we aim at printing 3D biohybrid systems by controlling organoids in a feedback loop – an unprecedented platform for disease models and drug screening beyond animal testing.

Our plans include research on radically different inorganic and organic-inorganic inks, bio-based inks, as well as the combination of laser nanoprinting with molecular self-assembly. We will print silicon-organic hybrid optical switches for internet communications which promises major energy savings.

Our coordinated interdisciplinary research program will leverage the complementary strengths of KIT and UHD. It strongly benefits from the recently established 3D Printing User Laboratory, the jointly used InnovationLab, and, in the near future, from the Karlsruhe Center for Optics & Photonics and from the research building for Life-Inspired Engineering of Molecular Systems at UHD. We will expand our joint interdisciplinary HEiKA Graduate School, which systematically supports early-career researchers, and also start a new M.Sc. program on Molecular Systems Science and Engineering at UHD. This excellent environment alongside new professor appointments ensures the continued success of 3DMM2O at KIT and UHD.