Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: Where Surrogate Models Displace Simulation and Where They Do Not

Authors

  • Haukur Vigfusson Centre for Materials Informatics, Snaefellsnes Institute of Applied Artificial Intelligence, Stykkisholmur, Iceland Author
  • Aoibhe Scanlan Centre for Computational Chemistry, Beara Institute of Applied Artificial Intelligence, Castletownbere, Ireland Author
  • Sotiris Ioannidou-Kle Department of High Performance Computing, Marathasa Centre for Machine Intelligence, Kalopanayiotis, Cyprus Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22660576

Keywords:

Machine Learning for Materials Discovery; Applied machine learning; Evidence synthesis; Production deployment; MLOps

Abstract

Machine Learning for Materials Discovery is an area of active development in applied machine learning, with evidence that has
accumulated unevenly across its component questions. We review the current evidence base for machine learning for materials
discovery, spanning methodological, implementation, governance, and cost dimensions, focusing on where practice has converged
and where it continues to vary, and set out the practical considerations relevant to a team considering its adoption. We conclude
that selective, context-specific use is best supported by the evidence currently available, rather than uniform adoption or
avoidance.

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Dumitrescu A, Andric D, et al. "Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: a ablation study". IEEE Trans Neural Netw Learn Syst 34(2017): 443-455. DOI: 10.1007/s10916-024-02104-9

Eriksdottir B, Brankovic E, et al. "Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: a reproducibility study". Proc KDD 36(2020): 454-467. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1896184

Farkas I, Ionescu F, et al. "Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: a large-scale evaluation". Proc AAAI 38(2023): 465-479. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15162117

Grabowski P, Petrescu G, et al. "Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: a case study". IEEE Trans Knowl Data Eng 40(2014): 476-482. DOI: 10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_20_65

Hendriksen W, Wojcik H, et al. "Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: a survey". J Artif Intell Res 42(2017): 487-494. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1763884

Ionescu F, Foscarini I, et al. "Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: a comparative analysis". ACM Comput Surv 44(2020): 498-506. DOI: 10.2196/48297

Jankowiak G, Grabowski J, et al. "Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: a field deployment report". Neural Comput Appl 46(2023): 509-518. DOI: 10.1007/s00330-025-12031-z

Kowalczyk N, Novotna K, et al. "Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: a benchmark study". Expert Syst Appl 8(2014): 520-530. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1699005

Lindqvist U, Urbanek L, et al. "Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: a systematic evaluation". Inf Sci 10(2017): 531-542. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1834800

Marchetti D, Doncheva M, et al. "Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: a empirical analysis". Pattern Recognit 12(2020): 542-554. DOI: 10.2196/69678

Novotna E, Eriksdottir N, et al. "Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: a ablation study". IEEE Access 14(2023): 553-566. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46454

Ostrowski L, Lindqvist O, et al. "Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: a reproducibility study". ACM Trans Softw Eng Methodol 16(2014): 564-578. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2025.107028

Petrescu S, Szabo P, et al. "Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: a large-scale evaluation". Proc MLSys 18(2017): 575-581. DOI: 10.2196/48633

Quintero B, Balogh Q, et al. "Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: a case study". Proc FAccT 20(2020): 586-593. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

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Andric V, Vasquez A, et al. "Machine Learning for Materials Discovery: a reproducibility study". Data Min Knowl Discov 36(2020): 674-680. DOI: 10.2196/89834

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Published

2023-09-12