MATERIALS INNOVATION
SIM aims to strengthen the materials industry in Flanders through materials innovation funding. Each year, SIM has a considerable budget available to support companies and research institutions in their innovative materials research.
Here you can read more about our SIM themes, SIM programs and other programs like projects in the transition domains or intercluster projects.

PROJECTS OVERVIEW
Here you can find a summary of all the programs and projects in which SIM has provided innovation support.
SIM PROGRAMS are all programs running at SIM or that have run within SIM. Under the tab INTERCLUSTER PROJECTS you can find all running intercluster projects, which are projects set up between members of different Flemish clusters (Spearhead clusters and/or IBNs). Within the TRANSITION PRIORITIES tab you will find all the projects conducted in the transition domains. These are projects framing in one of the Flemish transition priorities Circular Economy, Industry 4.0, or Energy. RELATED PROJECTS are projects on a SIM theme, but not in a program.
SIM THEMES
To optimally deploy our resources, SIM has defined several themes where the industrial activities in Flanders regarding materials can be further strengthened by setting up strategic research platforms. We have done this by carefully studying and mapping the Flemish landscape of materials research and industry. All SIM programs fit within the following themes.
DURABLE & SUSTAINABLE STRUCTURAL MATERIALS
Three domains were identified in this theme to match the interest and specialization of material related industry and research organizations in Flanders: hybrid structural materials, high performance multi-functional structural materials and sustainable processes.
PREDICTIVE MODELING AND ADVANCED CHARACTERIZATION
Materials and products become increasingly more complex. More different materials become available each year, resulting in endless combination possibilities for applications and functionalities. Basic knowledge, using detailed material characterization and modeling, is needed more than ever.
Recycling is a hot topic nowadays. Recycling is a process to change waste into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials and to reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials. Other advantages of recycling are to reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (as a result of incineration of waste) and water pollution (from landfilling).
The nanotechnology revolution essentially consists of the ability to control material features on the nanometer length scale. However, to see the economic impact of these new abilities, the basic science of nanotechnology, particularly in the area’s that lead to practical production of useful products, requires continuous development and improvement.