Beyond the key researchers the lead project also involves a number of associate researchers (the initiative is open for including more). A salient aspect of their role is to support sub-projects with their outstanding specific scientific expertise. Additionally, being part of the overall consortium, ARs will actively participate in different activities of the lead project including sharing information and disseminating results. It is envisaged that AR will eventually become part of follow-up project proposals. The distinction between KRs and ARs was based on eligibility criteria of the lead project call for key researchers and in the level of involvement in the proposed sub-projects. ARs are:

Markus Aichhorn (Institute of Theoretical and Computational Physics)
Brigitte Bitschnau (Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry)
Natalia Bedoya Martinez (former: Institute of Solid State Physics, now: Materials Center Leoben)
Juan M. Bolivar (Institute of Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering)
Rolf Breinbauer (Institute of Organic Chemistry)
Carlos Carbonell (Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry)
Francesco Carraro (Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry)
Alexander Dening (Institute of Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering)
Martin Dietzel (Institute of Applied Geosciences)
Stefan Freunberger (former: ICTM, now: Institute of Science and Technology, Austria)
Georg Gescheidt (Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry)
Peter Hadley (Institute of Solid State Physics)
Andreas Hauser (Institute of Experimental Physics)
Ulrich Hirn  (Institute of Paper, Pulp and Fibre Technology)
Oliver Hofmann (Institute of Solid State Physics)
Anne-Marie Kelterer (Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry)
Katharina Kodolitsch (former: ICTM, now: Allnex)
Mercedes Linares Moreau (Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry)
Peter Macheroux (Institute of Biochemistry)
Benedetta Marmiroli (Institute of Inorganic Chemistry)
Amrit Paudel (Institute of Process and Particle Engineering & RCPE GmbH)
Alberto Perrotta (Institute of Solid State Physics)
Thomas Rath (Institute for Chemistry and Technology of Materials)
Daniel Rettenwander (former: ICTM, now: Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
Raffaele Ricco (former: IPTC, now: Asian Insitute of Technology)
Christof Sommitsch (Institute of Materials Science, Joining and Forming)
Wolfgang Sprengel (Institute of Materials Physics)
Eva-Maria Steyskal (Institute of Materials Physics)
Manfred H. Ulz (Institute of Strength of Materials)
Miriam Velásquez (Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry)
Martin Wilkening (Institute for Chemistry and Technology of Materials)
Karin Zojer (Institute of Solid State Physics)