Press Releases

Quantum sciences and applications are rapidly advancing as key technologies for secure communication, high-performance computing, new materials, and ultra-precise sensing. To strategically advance these future technologies and transfer them into industrial applications, the Saxon research network for quantum technologies, SAX-QT “Quantum Saxony”, is being launched today. The aim is to strategically pool, further develop, and make internationally visible the expertise in quantum technologies within the Free State of Saxony. The network is coordinated by Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, the Fraunhofer Institutes for Photonic Microsystems IPMS and for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU, and the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research IFW Dresden.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) has launched the AIS-Edge Node project (Adaptive Integrated Inline Sensors for Infrastructure in the Environmental and Hydrogen Economy), working alongside numerous regional partners. The project aims to contribute significantly to structural change in Lusatia by utilising innovative sensor technologies and AI-based evaluation methods. The project will focus on closely monitoring soil and water bodies, as well as providing reliable safety monitoring for the growing hydrogen economy.

In the OASYS joint project, Optoelectronic Sensors for Application-Oriented Systems for Life Sciences and Intelligent Manufacturing, Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS is collaborating with research and industry partners to develop state-of-the-art optoelectronic sensor technologies. A key focus is given to the flagship project B1, MEMS-based Imaging in Scattering Media, which employs novel spatial light modulators (SLMs). These enable precise control of the light phase in highly scattering environments, enabling accurate wavefront correction and high-resolution imaging for biomedical diagnostics.

Artificial intelligence works fast, but its energy consumption is growing rapidly. A German-Taiwanese research team is now developing a solution: new memory for leading chip technologies smaller than 3 nm. These innovative nanosheet devices enable computing operations directly in memory, thereby drastically reducing energy consumption. They are based on ferroelectric field-effect transistors (FeMFETs) made from hafnium oxide, which are particularly efficient. With a joint research program, Fraunhofer IPMS, Fraunhofer IMWS, and the Taiwanese research institute TSRI are laying the foundation for the next generation of energy-efficient AI chips – from smartphones and automobiles to medical devices.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS has developed a new key management system (KMS) specifically designed for use in quantum-secure networks. The system enables the secure exchange of secret keys and ensures reliable, secure data distribution across large-scale network infrastructures.

Scientists at Forschungszentrum Jülich, together with partners from the QSolid consortium, which includes the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS, have achieved a significant project milestone: the project team has successfully integrated the prototype of a quantum computer into the Jülich Supercomputing Centre’s infrastructure, known as JUNIQ. For Fraunhofer IPMS as an active project partner, this progress represents a significant milestone on the path to a powerful and trustworthy German quantum ecosystem.

The Fraunhofer Center for Advanced CMOS and Heterointegration Saxony (CEASAX) is driving forward the development of pioneering technologies for microelectronics and has established itself as a key player in the European semiconductor value chain. Through its participation in the APECS pilot line, a core project of the EU Chips Act, and in the TEF project PREVAIL as part of the Digital Europe Program, CEASAX ensures access to cutting-edge technologies and supports stable supply chains in the field of advanced packaging at the 300 mm industry standard. Innovations in chiplet integration offer unique opportunities for smaller, more powerful and more efficient packages at the wafer level.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS in Germany is a leading research institute in the area of spatial light modulators (SLMs), a technology that is of great relevance to Japan’s high-tech industries. At Photonix Japan in Tokyo, the institute will be showcasing its advanced evaluation kits. Thanks to its innovative actuator architecture, Fraunhofer IPMS's novel platform can be equipped with either tilting or piston mirrors, offering a flexible solution for precise light modulation. This enables significant progress in areas such as microlithography, medical technology, astronomy, quantum computing and displays, to name a few.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS has taken a leading role in the development of microdisplays over the past decades and now presents a significant advancement in tools. . The new technology, specified and funded as part of the EdgeVision Microdisplay project (FKZ 03RU2U061C), and also by the Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture, and Tourism and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, promises substantial improvements in the efficiency and quality of manufacturing high-resolution microdisplays. Initial results will be presented at the SID-MEC Conference 2025, taking place from November 3 to 4, 2025, in Göttingen.

With the official launch of the Saxon Research Network for Quantum Technologies (SAX-QT), leading research institutions and universities in Saxony are pooling their expertise to create a powerful quantum ecosystem “Made in Saxony.” The aim is to translate the latest research results into industrial applications more quickly and establish the Free State as a leading location for quantum innovations. The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS is taking on a central coordinating role within the network. As a link between microelectronics, semiconductor technology, and quantum technologies, IPMS is contributing its many years of expertise in application-oriented research, industrial cooperation, and technology transfer.