Dear smart³-network,
Dear Readers,

The merlin magazine is now in its sixth edition. Seven years full of information and inspiration on smart materials and innovative, intelligent material technologies lie behind us - and more will follow. Because just as materials science has evolved, so has the magazine, which is now published in digital form.

I am therefore very pleased and honored to be the first to give you some thoughts in the form of a greeting. My name is Sascha Peters, I am the founder and managing director of the future agency Haute Innovation in Berlin. In our work, we try to look into the future and draw conclusions from developments in the field of materials to innovations in various product areas and industries.

In addition to innovations in digitalization, advances in the field of materials are the key drivers for the transformation process of our economy towards a circular economy. I have chosen a very special place to speak to you. A place in the center of Berlin. A place framed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Berlin Central Station and within sight of the Bundestag and the Federal Chancellery.

So now I'm standing here in front of the Futurium, where the future is being discussed. The Futurium had more than 760,000 visitors last year, making it one of the most visited and frequented exhibition venues in the capital. From May this year, the Futurium will be devoting itself to a new main theme, "Treasures of the Future".

How will raw materials shape our lives? How will living spaces be designed with new materials or which raw materials will accompany the great transformation in mobility? Will we achieve the European Union's zero carbon target? These are just some of the questions being asked in this context. In this context, as a future agency, we will be supporting the Futurium from May with innovations in the field of smart and circular materials and curating an exhibition area.

In addition to fascinating exhibits with natural raw materials and amazing innovations in biocircular materials, we will of course also be presenting results from the smart³-network. Because - as we all know - smart and programmable materials offer enormous potential for reducing the consumption of raw materials while keeping technical complexity low. If we understand how nature really works and learn how these mechanisms can be transferred to high-tech products, the options will increase even further.

High-tech is also necessary to open up another exciting field of application for smart materials: NewSpace. This refers to the commercialization and privatization of space travel and its increasing integration with the traditional economy. The opportunities for the commercialization of space also offer enormous growth potential for smart materials.

I would like to invite you to use merlin and take a look at the contents of this magazine. Please understand what the smart³network as a low-threshold opportunity to trigger innovations in your company and feel free to get in touch with your colleagues - it will be worth it.

Yours, Sascha Peters