Since its inauguration in 2008, NPG Asia Materials has published over 400 research highlights covering the latest in world-leading materials research from the Asia-Pacific region. The story of achievements in materials research told by the long list of research highlights is a testament to the quality, relevance and acuity of Asian research. Research highlights are published weekly on the journal website, and the featured highlights from the past quarter are presented in this issue.

Now in its third year, NPG Asia Materials has grown from a research highlights website to a quarterly online and print publication presenting topical review articles from leading materials researchers in the Asia-Pacific region. And we continue to grow — this year we will see the publication develop toward a fully fledged research journal presenting peer-reviewed original research articles in materials science.

NPG Asia Materials remains completely free: all of the content, research highlights and reviews, are freely available from http://www.natureasia.com/asia-materials/.We encourage you to visit the website regularly, and to sign up for free email alerts to keep in touch with the latest materials research from Asia, the Pacific and the world.