Institute of Physical Chemistry
The Institute of Physical Chemistry is an academic research unit of RWTH Aachen University, comprising ~95 staff across eight research groups conducting experimental and computational physical chemistry research — spanning complex oxides, soft matter, spectroscopy, and theoretical chemistry — while educating undergraduate and graduate students.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersAachen, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Institute of Physical Chemistry does
The Institute of Physical Chemistry (Institut für Physikalische Chemie) is an academic research and teaching unit within RWTH Aachen University's Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, located at Landoltweg 2, 52074 Aachen, with associated research groups operating at Forschungszentrum Jülich (~20 km away) under the Jülich Aachen Research Alliance. It is organized into approximately eight research groups covering solid-state physical chemistry, polymers and colloids, theoretical chemistry, condensed matter spectroscopy, complex oxides for energy technologies, functional colloids, applied interface electrochemistry, and theoretical physical chemistry of large molecules, supported by ~95 listed staff.
The institute's research infrastructure spans experimental techniques (in situ X-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, radiotracer diffusion, SIMS, impedance spectroscopy, dSTORM superresolution fluorescence microscopy, electrochemical atomic force microscopy) and theoretical/computational methods (Quantum Monte Carlo, density functional theory, tight-binding, molecular dynamics). Proprietary software tools include the amolqc Quantum Monte Carlo program, the GFN2-xTB semiempirical method family, hh-TDA, sTD-DFT/xTB, and SoMaCoFit for superresolved microscopy analysis. Faculty are internationally recognized, evidenced by the 2025 Hans G.A. Hellmann Prize (Prof. Bannwarth) and 2026 Karel Dušek Award (Dr. Hohenschutz), and maintain active collaborations with MIT, Weizmann Institute, University of Sheffield, University of Konstanz, and MPI Saarbrücken.
The institute is a non-commercial public entity; it has no commercial products or pricing. Revenue is sourced entirely from public funding channels: state budget allocations to RWTH Aachen from the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia, plus competitive research grants including DFG Collaborative Research Centers (SFB 985, SFB 1548/FLAIR, SPP 1959), the EU Horizon 2020 EPISTORE project, and the NRW Returning Scholars Program. Its primary beneficiaries are RWTH Aachen chemistry students and doctoral/postdoctoral researchers; secondary stakeholders are academic and industry partners in energy materials, electrocatalysis, and soft matter research.
Institute of Physical Chemistry firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Institute of Physical Chemistry
- Legal name
- RWTH Aachen University
- Website
- https://ipc.rwth-aachen.de
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Institute of Physical Chemistry is an academic research unit of RWTH Aachen University, comprising ~95 staff across eight research groups conducting experimental and computational physical chemistry research — spanning complex oxides, soft matter, spectroscopy, and theoretical chemistry — while educating undergraduate and graduate students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Institute of Physical Chemistry industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Academic research and education in physical chemistry
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro industry
- Quantum Simulation (Physics/Chemistry/Materials) ResearchHardware, Technology & Telecom/Quantum Computing/Quantum Research & Development (Academic and Industry Research)Quantum Materials, Qubits & Device Physics ResearchHardware, Technology & Telecom/Quantum Computing/Quantum Research & Development (Academic and Industry Research)
Keywords
Where Institute of Physical Chemistry is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aachen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Institute of Physical Chemistry business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Public University Funding: As a department of RWTH Aachen University, the institute receives public funding through government educational and research budgets. RWTH Aachen University is a public institution represented by the Rector.
- Research Grants and Project Funding: Funded by external research projects including SFB 985, SFB 1548 (FLAIR), Horizon 2020 EU project EPISTORE, SPP 1959, and NRW Returning Scholars Program
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Institute of Physical Chemistry product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Institute of Physical Chemistry conducts fundamental and applied research in physical chemistry across eight research groups and offers academic education (undergraduate and graduate coursework, doctoral training) at RWTH Aachen University. Research spans solid-state chemistry, soft matter (microgels, polymers, colloids), theoretical chemistry (Quantum Monte Carlo, DFT, semiempirical methods), spectroscopy, and energy materials for batteries and electrocatalysis. The institute also develops and disseminates proprietary computational and analytical software tools, including the amolqc Quantum Monte Carlo program and SoMaCoFit superresolution microscopy analysis software.
Product overview
The Institute of Physical Chemistry at RWTH Aachen University is a research and academic institution organized into eight research groups and associated groups at Forschungszentrum Jülich. The institute offers academic education in physical chemistry (covering thermodynamics, kinetics, electrochemistry, and spectroscopy) and conducts fundamental research across multiple specialized areas including solid-state chemistry, soft matter science, theoretical chemistry, condensed matter spectroscopy, and energy materials. Research tools developed include the amolqc Quantum Monte Carlo software and SoMaCoFit microscopy analysis software. The institute is not a commercial product company but rather an academic research unit.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- amolqc
Quantifiable outcome
- GFN2-xTB has become one of the most widely used semiempirical quantum mechanical methods within the chemistry community
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Institute of Physical Chemistry
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Institute of Physical Chemistry technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
Institute of Physical Chemistry partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, strategic and minor.
- Forschungszentrum JülichcoreLong-standing institutional partnership providing dual-site operation. Associated research groups at Jülich including Prof. Dr. Rüdiger-A. Eichel (IET-1), Prof. Dr. Stephan Förster (JCNS-1), Prof. Dr. Florian Hausen, PD Dr. Carsten Korte (IET-4), PD Dr. Andreas Stadler (JCNS-1), and Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Steinrück (INW-1) conduct joint research with IPC.
- SFB 985 (Collaborative Research Center 985)coreGerman Research Foundation funded collaborative research center focused on 'Functional Microgels and Microgel Systems'. Led by Prof. Walter Richtering's group, involving multiple research institutions working on responsive soft matter.
- SFB 1548 - FLAIR (Fermi-Level Engineering Applied to Oxide Electroceramics)majorCollaborative research initiative on oxide electroceramics combining experimental and computational approaches across multiple German institutions. Prof. Roger A. De Souza contributes ion transport expertise.
- EPISTORE (Horizon 2020 EU Project)majorEuropean Union funded project on nanoscale materials for high-density energy conversion devices. Involves development of novel materials and characterization techniques for energy applications.
- SPP 1959 (Priority Program)majorDFG Priority Program on 'Electric Field Assisted Diffusion and Sintering of Polycrystalline Cerium Oxide'. Collaborative research involving Prof. O. Guillon (IEK-1) and Prof. R. Dunin-Borkowski (ER-C).
- Weizmann Institute of SciencestrategicCollaboration with Prof. Dr. I. Lubomirsky's group on ion transport in pyrochlore oxides for energy applications.
- MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)strategicInternational collaboration with Prof. H. L. Tuller on oxygen transport in oxides and defect chemistry of ferroic perovskites.
- University of SheffieldstrategicCollaboration with Prof. D. C. Sinclair on oxygen diffusion in mixed conducting perovskites.
- University of KonstanzstrategicCollaboration with Prof. Stefan Mecking's group on synthesis and characterization of semi-crystalline polyethylene nanoparticles for fluorescence microscopy studies.
- Max Planck Institute for Informatics (MPI Saarbrücken)strategicCooperation with Dr. A. Karrenbauer on development of novel single molecule tracking algorithms using top-down polyhedral approaches and linear programming solvers.
- RWTH Profile Area 'Molecular Science and Engineering' (Competence Center FLAMENCO)majorInternal RWTH excellence initiative providing framework for high-resolution fluorescence microscopy research. Competence Center FLAMENCO combines expertise from multiple departments for advanced microscopy development.
- Deutsche Bunsen-Gesellschaft für Physikalische ChemieminorInstitutional membership in national professional society for physical chemistry, facilitating networking and collaboration within the German chemistry community.
- GDCh (Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker)minorInstitutional membership in the Society of German Chemists, the largest chemical society in Europe, providing access to resources, conferences, and professional development.
- JARA (Jülich Aachen Research Alliance)coreStrategic alliance between RWTH Aachen University and Forschungszentrum Jülich facilitating joint research, shared infrastructure, and personnel exchange across partner institutions.
- Kolloid-Gesellschaft e.V.minorInstitutional membership in the German Colloids Society, supporting soft matter and colloid science research community.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Institute of Physical Chemistry competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- University of Oxford — Department of Chemistry: Peer in theoretical and physical chemistry, including computational method development and materials chemistry; matches IPC's blend of fundamental and applied work.
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research (Stuttgart): Strong overlap on solid-state physical chemistry, complex oxides, defect chemistry, and transport in functional materials — direct comparator for the De Souza and Martin groups.
- University of Cambridge — Department of Chemistry: Top UK physical/theoretical chemistry department; comparable research profile in spectroscopy, computational chemistry, and soft matter, with similar academic-vs-applied mix.
- ETH Zürich — Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences: Top European public-university chemistry department with parallel breadth across physical chemistry, theoretical chemistry, spectroscopy, and soft matter. Comparable scale, mix of fundamental and applied energy research, and similar international-collaboration posture.
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion (Mülheim): Peer on the energy-chemistry side (electrocatalysis, CO2 reduction, battery interfaces), overlapping with the Hausen group's electrochemistry and in situ spectroscopy work.
- MIT Department of Chemistry: Active collaboration partner (Tuller group on defect chemistry and oxygen transport); equivalent in scale, prestige, and breadth across physical and theoretical chemistry.
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Mainz): Closest peer on the soft matter / microgels / polymer colloids side, overlapping directly with the Richtering group and SFB 985 Functional Microgels activities.
- University of Sheffield — Department of Chemistry: Active collaborator (Sinclair group on mixed conducting perovskites); peer on solid-state ionics and defect chemistry of energy materials.
- Imperial College London — Department of Chemistry: Strong overlap in physical chemistry of solids, electrochemistry, and spectroscopy, with comparable scale and an applied-energy research footprint.
Others
- Forschungszentrum Jülich: Not a competitor but a deeply embedded partner: hosts associated IPC groups (IET-1, JCNS-1, INW-1, IEK-1) and provides large-scale research infrastructure via the JARA alliance.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Institute of Physical Chemistry social profiles
Digital presenceInstitute of Physical Chemistry financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Institute of Physical Chemistry leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Institute of Physical Chemistry funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Institute of Physical Chemistry M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Physical Chemistry
What does Institute of Physical Chemistry do?
The Institute of Physical Chemistry conducts fundamental and applied research in physical chemistry across eight research groups and offers academic education (undergraduate and graduate coursework, doctoral training) at RWTH Aachen University. Research spans solid-state chemistry, soft matter (microgels, polymers, colloids), theoretical chemistry (Quantum Monte Carlo, DFT, semiempirical methods), spectroscopy, and energy materials for batteries and electrocatalysis. The institute also develops and disseminates proprietary computational and analytical software tools, including the amolqc Quantum Monte Carlo program and SoMaCoFit superresolution microscopy analysis software.
Is Institute of Physical Chemistry a public or private company?
Institute of Physical Chemistry is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Institute of Physical Chemistry founded?
Institute of Physical Chemistry was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Institute of Physical Chemistry based?
Institute of Physical Chemistry is headquartered in Aachen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Institute of Physical Chemistry make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Public University Funding is the primary driver. The others are research Grants and Project Funding.
Who are Institute of Physical Chemistry's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are University of Oxford — Department of Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research (Stuttgart), University of Cambridge — Department of Chemistry, ETH Zürich — Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion (Mülheim), MIT Department of Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Mainz), University of Sheffield — Department of Chemistry and Imperial College London — Department of Chemistry. Forschungszentrum Jülich is listed as an others.
Does Institute of Physical Chemistry have an API?
No public API is recorded for Institute of Physical Chemistry.
What industry is Institute of Physical Chemistry in?
Institute of Physical Chemistry's product category is Academic research and education in physical chemistry. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAGAMAG, Quantum Simulation (Physics/Chemistry/Materials) Research, with a secondary code of HDAGAMAA, Quantum Materials, Qubits & Device Physics Research. Its NAICS code is 541715 and its SIC code is 8731.