The overall qualification concept relies on three pillars:

1) Interdisciplinary education covers training in electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineering, chemistry, and physics including 2D-MATURE workshops and hands-on lab and method training.

2) International education is strengthened by an exchange program with a ~6–8 months research stay in the group of a PI from the other country to foster international mobility. For cotutelle PhD projects, an approximately equal time will be spent at each university.

3) Intersectoral mobility is fostered by incorporating partners from industry as mentors, including an optional internship.

The qualification concept is organized in a way that over the course of each cohort the focus is on increasing independence of the PhD candidates.