Networks & Science Collaborations

Since its founding, Fraunhofer IPMS has enjoyed a close partnership with the Dresden Technical University (TU Dresden). This applies in particular to the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. Deans have traditionally been available to Fraunhofer IPMS in the role of advisory trustees. Prof. Dr. Hubert Lakner’s chair for optoelectronic components and systems as well as other faculties provide an intensive exchange with students and graduates in both basic and contract mission-oriented research. Examples of this collaborative research include regular joint public project proposals, publications, trade fairs and patent applications. With the “Functional Integration for Micro- / Nanoelectronics” High-Performance-Center the development of innovative components and manufacturing technologies was further intensified. #

Fraunhofer IPMS and TU Dresden also work together in external projects. One of the eleven designated „Universities of Excellence“ in Germany, TU Dresden has teamed with Fraunhofer IPMS and other partners from science and culture under the label „DRESDEN concept“ to coordinate a science strategy and highlight the outstanding research being conducted in Dresden.

As a result of Prof. Dr. Harald Schenk’s professorship in Micro and Nano Systems, as well as the new remote department "Integrated Silicon Systems", Fraunhofer IPMS is closely connected to the Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) Cottbus-Senftenberg. This unique cooperation includes the joint use of premises and laboratories at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg and the provision of attractive graduate studies and further education in the field of photonic microsystems in the "Cottbus Joint Lab" as well as joint research and development work.

The former "Mesonscopic Actuators and Systems"project group founded in 2012 continues as the new remote department "Integrated Silicon Systems" (ISS) of the Fraunhofer IPMS at the Cottbus location. Moreover, the scope of research and development will be extended by the new working group "terahertz micro modules and applications". Further research activities of the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg and Fraunhofer IPMS include working with other non-university research institutes in the cluster “FuSion” for which Prof. Dr. Harald Schenk serves as speaker. “FuSion” aims to gain a deeper understanding of materials, processes and film systems by taking an interdisciplinary approach that opens up new solutions for energy-efficient components.

With the “Smart Wireless Production” working group anchored in the “Wireless Microsystems” business unit, Fraunhofer IPMS has used its synergy with the Dresden University of Applied Sciences (HTW Dresden) in the area of smart industrial production. The group, which has been supported for over three years with 1.2 million euros from the “Cooperation Program for Universities of Applied Sciences”, is led by Prof. Dr. Dirk Reichelt who also holds a professorship in Information Management at the HTW Dresden. The work group supports the Fraunhofer IPMS and HTW Dresden collaboration in developing novel solutions for the digital transformation in industrial manufacturing.

With similar intent, Fraunhofer IPMS takes part in the model factory “Industrial Internet of Things Test Bed” project at the HTW Dresden. Under the headline “Make digitization come alive” HTW Dresden launched the industry model factory focussing on IoT solutions in industrial surroundings under the direction of Prof. Dr. Dirk Reichelt. The test bed funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) was designed to reproduce highly real and precisely detailed partially-automated production processes. Besides research projects the test bed serves as a platform for demonstration and information purposes. Starting in 2017 HTW Dresden and Fraunhofer IPMS have been organizing workshops. These utilize the example of the Fraunhofer IPMS wireless, maintenance-free sensor systems based on RFID-UHF to illustrate how RFID and sensor technology can be combined to open new and interesting fields of application.