A Centre for AI-Powered Materials Research Is Being Established in the Region

A memorandum signed by American startup Yonder Materials (CombiMatrixAI Corporation), Tomas Bata University in Zlín, and the regional development agency ZRIA paves the way to establish a significant European centre for discovering new materials using artificial intelligence.

The document establishes a framework for the creation of the Zlín Materials Institute (ZMI) — a collaborative powerhouse of researchers, engineers, students, and companies that will combine artificial intelligence with materials science to create a dynamic research environment focused on developing the materials of the future for commercial deployment.

The memorandum also defines the shape of future cooperation, pilot research sectors, and the gradual direction towards establishing this new research institute. The Zlín Materials Institute is intended to become the foundation of a European centre of excellence for the discovery of new materials, based in Zlín, serving not only the Czech Republic but also other European Union countries. The cooperation begins with specific commercial projects, which serve as proof of concept, and on their basis the framework for cooperation and the institute itself will be further defined.

“A platform for innovation will be created in the Zlín Region, attracting international talent and capital, and the role of TBU as a key player in this field will also be strengthened. The goal is to create a world-class centre in Zlín and anchor cutting-edge research in the region, to be followed by support for local companies and entrepreneurship,” said Governor Radim Holiš. Zlín and the Zlín region have a strong tradition in materials engineering, with the Faculty of Technology, the Institute of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Faculty of Applied Informatics, and the Centre of Polymer Systems.

“Yonder Materials already cooperates with the Texas Materials Institute at the University of Texas in Austin and with the Clean Energy Institute at the University of Washington. It is developing partnerships with other leading universities and technology leaders around the world. Now they are looking for opportunities in Europe — and we agreed that Zlín is one of the key destinations where they can build their European base and at the same time build on the experience and tradition of our region,” described Petr Kubíček, Director of Strategic Development at ZRIA, about the beginnings of the cooperation.

“The cooperation with Yonder Materials demonstrates how, through our long-term relationships in the USA, we can bring cutting-edge technology and new investment impulses to the region. American innovation companies — like Yonder — are looking for partners in Europe who will help them grow. And that is precisely the role of the Zlín Region: to be a bridge between technology leaders and our universities and companies,” said Deputy Governor David Vychytil.

The positive expectations are confirmed by the representatives of the American company. “The Zlín Materials Institute will create a framework for cooperation that will help Yonder achieve its strategic goals in Europe. It will combine the industrial base, the academic background of Tomas Bata University, and business opportunities. We are excited to be part of this cooperation,” says Don Montgomery, founder of Yonder Materials.

“Zlín is an ideal starting point for our European operations thanks to its strategic location, emphasis on scientific education and research, and strong industrial base,” added David Clark, Executive Vice President for Business Development.

Yonder Materials’ technology makes it possible to significantly accelerate the discovery of new materials. It combines artificial intelligence with automated testing, enabling the evaluation of vast numbers of possibilities within days that would take years using traditional methods. This new technological cooperation thus builds on Zlín’s long tradition as a place where entire industrial sectors have been transformed through innovations in materials — dating back to the era of Tomáš Baťa.

The planned partnership builds on exactly these possibilities, drawing on the outstanding facilities of the Faculty of Technology, the Faculty of Applied Informatics, and the Centre of Polymer Systems. Research results will find applications in areas such as space research, electromobility, sustainability, decarbonisation, and regenerative medicine — not only for companies in the Zlín Region, but also across the Czech Republic and the European Union. The cooperation is therefore also open to other entities. The goal is for the institute to be a platform connecting research, technology companies, and application partners in the field of materials.

“For students, working with these systems will be an excellent experience, and for the university it will be an opportunity to build cooperation with customers, companies, and research projects from across Europe and the USA,” said TBU Rector Milan Adámek.

The Faculty of Applied Informatics will also be involved in the project, developing and fine-tuning AI models and addressing data protection, which it has long specialised in.

Yonder Materials is an AI startup from Seattle, closely connected with the University of Washington and the Texas Materials Institute in Austin. The team consists of experts with extensive experience in American technology companies. The company develops a unique technology for discovering new materials — combining artificial intelligence with automated, autonomous robotic laboratories and offering a combination of cutting-edge software and proprietary hardware.