By heterovalent substitution in oxide electroceramics (doping), different compensation mechanisms (electronic, ionic, valence changes…) can be enabled. In project B07 of the collaborative research center FLAIR we are working on predicting and applying these different compensation mechanisms for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). We are altering the catalyst surface electronic structure through doping, substitution, or defect engineering to induce the formation of specific chemical intermediates and active phases for reducing overpotentials and increasing stability of the active phase during the water splitting reaction.