What do Twente and the German town of Jülich have in common? Quite a lot, especially regarding groundbreaking research into advanced materials. For over a decade, scientists from the University of Twente (UT) and the renowned Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) have been working together on thin, functional material layers — known as “oxide films” — which play a key role in technologies such as batteries, microchips and energy storage.
For German researcher Felix Gunkel, it all started in Twente.
Since then, a strong partnership has grown. The collaboration has become both close and productive through joint research projects, co-supervised PhD trajectories, and regular visits to each other’s labs. One key figure in this growing network is Professor Chris Baeumer, with whom Felix has developed an especially close working relationship. “Together with Chris’s group, we supervise PhD students who benefit from access to both UT’s and Jülich’s state-of-the-art labs and expertise.”
A shared mission binds the two institutes: using science to advance society. The University of Twente is a leader in developing materials with special properties, like magnetism, conductivity, or chemical reactivity. Felix’s team in Jülich specialises in analysing how these materials behave on the tiniest scale. Felix: “Together, we can design materials so precisely that we can nearly eliminate imperfections. That’s important, because even the smallest flaws often determine whether something truly works or not.”
This mission is also the central goal of close collaborations with the groups of professors. Gertjan Koster and Guus Rijnders at NEM/IMS, addressing the role of defects in semiconductor-grade ferroelectrics, superconductors, and functional oxides.
What stands out to Felix is the atmosphere at UT. “There’s an open and curious culture. The students are engaged, the researchers are approachable, and there’s a strong sense of collaboration.” And with a smile, he adds: “Also, you never forget the one-cent coffee at the department!”
The collaboration between Twente and Jülich is a great example of how science knows no borders. Researchers from both countries supervise PhD students together, exchange knowledge, and strengthen each other’s work. And this is just the beginning. Plans are in place to expand the collaboration even further, with more joint students, deeper institutional ties, and regular staff exchanges. Close collaborations are also planned
Felix’s advice to other researchers? “Be open to collaboration, keep communicating, and stay curious. Big opportunities often begin with small conversations.”
What’s next?
The partnership between Twente and Jülich is still growing. In the coming years, the two institutions plan to expand their collaboration through more jointly supervised PhD and Master's students, frequent researcher exchanges, and new research initiatives in areas like energy, electronics and climate. “We’re laying the groundwork for a long-term alliance,” Felix says. “It’s not just about science — it’s about building a shared research culture that crosses borders.”
