Materials of construction will exert a much greater influence on cultural developments of advanced societies than in the past. Research in materials science will have to be given a high interdisciplinary priority in countries with the right scientific and technological background. Particularly in the case of this developing area, science will have to emerge from its classical compartmentalization as soon as possible because further progress will require joint consideration of chemical, physical, and, where appropriate, biological aspects, while exploiting to the creative scope of engineering. Beyond that, it will become more important than ever to combine science and engineering and derive an innovative materials technology from the more contemplative discipline of materials science.