Bremen as a research location is celebrating a significant success: on May 22, the German Research Foundation (DFG) announced the funding decisions as part of the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments. Among them: the Cluster of Excellence "The Martian Mindset - A Scarcity-Driven Engineering Paradigm", which in future will provide answers to the question of how functional components can be produced under extremely resource-poor conditions - both on Mars and on Earth.
Leibniz-IWT is proud to be working with the University of Bremen, Fraunhofer IFAM, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to help shape this extraordinary research approach.
 

From January 1, 2026, around 40 scientists in Bremen will be working on how vital spare parts can be produced from Martian dust, sunlight and the thin CO₂ atmosphere there - without access to conventional supply chains. The focus is not only on the development of new materials and production technologies, but also on decision-making in the face of scarce information.

The Leibniz-IWT is therefore all the more pleased to be able to contribute our expertise in materials and process technology to this forward-looking cluster. The scientific program areas at the institute are making an important contribution here, which not only affects space travel - but also provides impetus for sustainable and resource-conserving production on Earth.
After all, what is intended for Mars can also have an effect on Earth. The methods developed in the cluster, such as the use of secondary raw materials or the digitalization of energy-efficient production processes, help to overcome current challenges such as the use of recycled materials or the transformation of industry towards sustainability.
With the "Martian Mindset", Bremen is taking a bold step towards the future - supported by a strong alliance of excellent research institutions that thinks in an interdisciplinary way and breaks new ground together.
 

Image: © Matej Meza, University of Bremen: Professor Kirsten Tracht, designated co-spokesperson of the Cluster of Excellence "The Martian Perspective", Professor Michal Kucera, Vice-Rector for Research and Transfer, Professor Heiko Pälike, designated spokesperson of the Cluster of Excellence "The Ocean Floor", Professor Jutta Günther, Rector of the University of Bremen, Director of MARUM Professor Kai-Uwe Hinrichs, Professor Marc Avila, designated co-spokesperson of the Cluster of Excellence "The Martian Perspective" (from left).