The Task Area Strategy Development (TA-SD) addresses the broader transformation that the NFDI initiative represents for materials science and engineering (MSE). Beyond technical infrastructures, TA-SD focuses on the cultural and strategic dimensions of digitalization in science—recognizing that future research processes will be shaped by new paradigms such as AI-assisted knowledge generation. In this context, TA-SD ensures that NFDI-MatWerk remains responsive to the needs of its scientific community and is guided by transparent, forward-looking governance.

In the first funding phase, TA-SD primarily supported organizational development and internal coordination. In the second phase, its role expands toward systematic portfolio management, stakeholder engagement, and the alignment of community needs with infrastructure development and communication strategies.