  Humanity has long sought inspiration from nature to innovate materials and
devices. As science advances, nature-inspired materials are becoming part of
our lives. Animate materials, characterized by their activity, adaptability,
and autonomy, emulate properties of living systems. While only biological
materials fully embody these principles, artificial versions are advancing
rapidly, promising transformative impacts across various sectors. This roadmap
presents authoritative perspectives on animate materials across different
disciplines and scales, highlighting their interdisciplinary nature and
potential applications in diverse fields including nanotechnology, robotics and
the built environment. It underscores the need for concerted efforts to address
shared challenges such as complexity management, scalability, evolvability,
interdisciplinary collaboration, and ethical and environmental considerations.
The framework defined by classifying materials based on their level of animacy
can guide this emerging field encouraging cooperation and responsible
development. By unravelling the mysteries of living matter and leveraging its
principles, we can design materials and systems that will transform our world
in a more sustainable manner.
