What is ICMS?
The Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), founded on April 1, 2008, is a new interdisciplinary initiative at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). It brings excellent researchers from different areas together to promote cross-breeding of ideas across departments and across disciplines. The institute aims at becoming an internationally leading institute. It will do this by forcing widely recognized scientific breakthroughs in the engineering of complex molecular systems and by forming an advanced study center for scientific discussion on the topic of complexity.
Several research groups in different departments form the basis research platform for building knowledge and infrastructure in systems chemistry and supramolecular chemistry. With this multidisciplinary approach the aim is to create complex, functional objects based on novel engineering tools and state-of-the-art modeling. All in close collaboration with staff members, PhD students and post-docs working in physics, biology, mathematics, chemistry, chemical engineering and mechanical engineering.
Our mission
The ICMS aims to become an internationally leading institute. It will do this by forcing widely recognized scientific breakthroughs in the engineering of complex molecular systems and by forming an advanced study center for scientific discussion on the topic of complexity.
Our vision
ICMS has three main objectives as part of its overall vision:
1. Multidisciplinarity
The institute will introduce a new mode of operation at TU/e that will stimulate multidisciplinarity in an unorthodox manner and bring young and senior scientists together. It will facilitate cooperation across the boundaries of traditional disciplines and invest generously in infrastructure.
2. Unique educational system
The institute will create a unique educational system for interdisciplinary science and engineering at all levels (MSc, PhD, postdoc, tenure track).
3. Intellectual home for scientists
The institute will host leading scientists from all over the world as guests. It serves as an intellectual home for scientists (Advanced Study Center).
Our ambition
The Institute plans to achieve success in five main activities:
- New science
- Advanced study center for complexity
- Unique educational system
- High-profile social outreach program
- Novel infrastructure
