This paper addresses the EUROfusion DEMO materials research program and highlights the characterization of the in-vessel baseline materials EUROFER97, CuCrZr and tungsten as well as advanced structural and high heat flux materials developed for risk mitigation. In support of engineering design activities the focus primarily is to assemble a data base, to supply material property handbooks, material assessment reports, DEMO design criteria and material design limits for DEMO thermal, mechanical and environmental conditions. For advanced candidate material including (a) steels optimized towards lower or higher operational windows, (b) heat sink materials (copper alloys or composites) and (c) tungsten based plasma facing materials data representative for DEMO are presented. In view of preparing for future licensing and clarification of performance limits, as major step nine neutron irradiation campaigns were started recently. The campaigns include (i) baseline materials irradiated up to medium neutron dose levels, typical for DEMO 1st phase, to fill gaps in the materials property handbook and improve design limits (ii) advanced material irradiated at lower fluence for screening and down-selection and (iii) a huge temperature-dpa matrix at low fluence for material modelling verification and increased fundamental knowledge.