AI-Based Material Research Centre Is Being Established in the Region
4. August 2025A significant European centre for discovering new materials using artificial intelligence is set to be established, according to a memorandum signed by the American startup Yonder Materials (CombiMatrixAI Corporation), Tomas Bata University in Zlín and the regional development agency ZRIA (Zlín Region Investment Industry).
The document outlines the framework for the creation of the Zlín Materials Institute (ZMI) – a collaborative team of researchers, technicians, students and companies that will link artificial intelligence with materials science. The aim is to create a dynamic research environment focused on the development of future materials for commercial use.
The memorandum also defines the future framework for cooperation, pilot research areas and the step-by-step approach leading to the establishment of this new research institute. The Zlín Materials Institute is intended to become the foundation for a European centre of excellence in material discovery, based in Zlín, serving not only the Czech Republic but also other countries within the European Union.
“A platform for innovation, a flow of international talent and capital will emerge in the Zlín region, and the role of TBU as a key player in this area will also be strengthened. The goal is to create a world-class centre in Zlín and anchor cutting-edge research in the region,” said Radim Holiš, the Governor of Zlín Region. Zlín and the surrounding region have a strong tradition in materials engineering, with institutions such as the Faculty of Technology, the Department of Informatics and Artificial Intelligence at the Faculty of Applied Informatics, and the Centre of Polymer Systems.
“Yonder Materials is already collaborating with the Texas Materials Institute at the University of Texas in Austin and the Clean Energy Institute at the University of Washington. It is also developing partnerships with other leading universities and technological leaders worldwide. 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, while also leveraging the experience and tradition of our region,” explained Petr Kubíček, Director of Strategic Development at ZRIA.
“Collaboration with Yonder Materials is an example of how we can bring cutting-edge technology and new investment impulses to the region through long-term relationships in the USA. American innovation companies – like Yonder – are looking for partners in Europe to help them grow. And that is exactly the role of the Zlín Region: to act as a bridge between technological leaders and our universities and companies,” added David Vychytil, Deputy Governor of Zlín Region.
The positive expectations are also confirmed by 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 connect the industrial base, the academic background of Tomas Bata University and business opportunities. We are excited to be part of this collaboration,” said Don Montgomery, founder of Yonder Materials.
“Zlín is the ideal starting point for our European operations due to its strategic location, emphasis on scientific education and research, and strong industrial base,” added David Clark, Executive Vice President for Development at Yonder Materials.
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the development of new materials – it can rapidly evaluate vast amounts of combinations of compositions and properties, significantly shortening the path from research to practice. This partnership will build on these possibilities, leveraging the expertise of the Faculty of Technology, the Faculty of Applied Informatics and the Centre of Polymer Systems. The results of the research will have 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.
“For students, working with these systems will be an excellent experience, and for the university, it will be an opportunity to establish collaborations with clients, companies, and research projects from across Europe and the USA,” said Milan Adámek, Rector of Tomas Bata University.
The Faculty of Applied Informatics will also be involved in the project, developing and fine-tuning AI models and addressing data protection, an area in which it has long specialised.
Yonder Materials is an AI startup based in Seattle, closely connected with the University of Washington and the Texas Materials Institute in Austin. The team consists of experts with extensive experience from American technology companies. The company is developing 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.