The research center in Julich is the largest of the 16 national research centers in the Federal Republic of Germany. This year, the center is 40 years old and has an annual budget of DM 485 million. In the early years the center concentrated on nuclear power-related technologies but now research carried out at the center is very interdisciplinary and very diverse. The development of the center is described, the current research priorities presented and a view of an interdisciplinary materials research future is discussed.