Press Releases

Science Minister Manja Schüle launches the artificial intelligence and microelectronics initiative. The Federal Ministry of Research is funding the project with €15 million under the Structural Development Act. The first module, AI-DISCO, is researching a platform for distributed AI.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS has expanded its 300 mm technology platform with a highly flexible physical vapor deposition (PVD) system, reinforcing its capabilities in developing CMOS-compatible materials and processes for next-generation quantum computing. Installed in collaboration with Polyteknik, the new platform enables the deposition and optimization of superconducting thin films on 300 mm wafers under production-like semiconductor manufacturing conditions. This is a major milestone towards the establishment of a European Quantum Research Foundry.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS has developed a new technology that can significantly improve the image quality of optical microscopes. A specially designed micromechanical mirror array corrects optical distortions that occur when viewing biological tissue. This makes even fine structures appear sharper, which is an important prerequisite for biomedical research and future applications in medical diagnostics.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS is one of the world’s leading research institutions in the field of spatial light modulators. Its technologies enable light to be controlled and shaped with high precision. This opens up new possibilities in semiconductor manufacturing, medical technology, and precision optics. At Photonix Japan 2026, Fraunhofer IPMS will present its latest research findings. The institute will also demonstrate how its spatial light modulators can be further developed into customized solutions for demanding photonic applications.

Lusatia is emerging as one of Germany’s most exciting innovation hubs. Through targeted investments in research and technology transfer, Cottbus is becoming a strong hub for future technologies. The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) is playing a key role in this development, with a focus on microelectronics, smart sensors, and artificial intelligence: The institute combines excellent research with concrete applications for industry, thereby laying the technological foundation for the region’s successful structural transformation.

Whether it’s sensor technology, data processing, or quantum technologies, integrated photonics lays the foundation for compact and high-performance systems. Optical components and functions can be integrated onto a single chip and combined with electronics and other technologies. The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS develops photonic devices and systems for this purpose. At the Industry Partner Day on August 20, 2026, Fraunhofer IPMS brought together representatives from research and industry to discuss current developments and future prospects in integrated photonics.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS is expanding its leadership team: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wenke Weinreich has been appointed the institute’s second director, effective immediately. In her new role, she will be working alongside Institute Director Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Schenk and guiding the institute’s strategic and scientific direction. At the same time, she will take on the professorship in Functionalized Microelectronics for Heterogeneous Systems at the Dresden University of Technology.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS), in collaboration with Heimann Sensor and the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (IFW Dresden), is developing the technological foundation for a new generation of thermoelectric infrared sensor arrays. By integrating highly efficient thermoelectric materials into CMOS-compatible manufacturing technology for the first time, the project aims to create significantly more powerful sensors. The goal is to achieve a temperature resolution of less than 20 millikelvin with pixel sizes of less than 45 micrometers, which is an important step toward new applications in medicine, industry, mobility and security.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS is becoming a meeting point for international cutting-edge research in microelectronics: with the renowned International Conference on IC Design and Technology 2026 (ICICDT 2026), the institute is bringing leading experts from industry and academia to Dresden. For three days, Dresden will become an international hub for discussing the latest developments in integrated circuits.

Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS announces Q‑Dice, a high‑performance Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) that generates randomness based on quantum vacuum fluctuations. The system delivers true random numbers at bit rates exceeding 4 Gbit/s based on intrinsically random and uncontrollable quantum effects. Unlike existing approaches, Q-Dice does not rely on potentially vulnerable algorithms and enables significantly higher data rates, making it particularly well suited for security-critical applications. The quality of the generated randomness has been validated through established and internationally recognized testing frameworks, including BSI AIS 20/31 and the NIST SP 800-22 test suite.