Press Releases

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.

Lasers provide valuable services in many areas of medicine. For portable yet robust and precise laser devices, scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS, in collaboration with industrial partners Norlase and OptiKron, have developed a groundbreaking compact microscan module in the project UltraLase (FKZ: 01QE2309C), funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). This module will be presented for the first time at electronicaINDIA, from September 17 to 19, 2025, in Bangalore, India (International Pavilion, Stand E77, Hall 5)

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS and the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ) have achieved significant results in generating arbitrary light distributions, which are also relevant to atomic quantum computing. Spatial light modulators can be used to stimulate a large number of atoms in desired positions at the same time via laser beam. Localized in this way, they become switchable information carriers for quantum computers or for other applications in quantum metrology and quantum simulation, marking a major stride toward scalable quantum systems.

The Center Nanoelectronic Technologies (CNT) of the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 2005, it has developed into a pillar of applied semiconductor research in Germany and Europe. With its unique research cleanroom and equipment adhering to the 300-mm wafer industry standard, CNT is unparalleled in Germany and serves as a central innovation driver for the microelectronics industry.

AlixLabs and NSS Water are pleased to announce a strategic collaboration to develop sustainable and cost-effective ultrapure water (UPW) management solutions for chip production. Amid rising concerns over the semiconductor industry's ever-increasing water consumption the two Swedish companies will team up to address this challenge. The project value is approximately 28,000 euros, with funding coming from the European Union’s ASCENT+ program and is overseen by the Fraunhofer-Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS, in collaboration with DIVE imaging systems GmbH, has achieved a major milestone in resource-efficient semiconductor manufacturing. With the successful installation of an optical measurement system by DIVE in the cleanroom of Fraunhofer IPMS, the effort required for quality control during wafer production has been significantly reduced. This collaboration paves the way for a more sustainable and efficient semiconductor production process.

The European Union has approved Superconducting European Quantum Pilot Line (SUPREME), a major new pilot line to industrialise superconducting quantum chip fabrication, coordinated by VTT (Finland) and funded through the EU Chips Joint Undertaking. As part of this initiative involving 23 partners across 8 EU member states, one of the three central fabrication sites will be hosted in Germany, specifically in Garching and the Munich area, supported by a strong consortium of German research institutions and technology developers. Fraunhofer IPMS contributes its expertise in the areas of industry-compatible manufacturing of superconducting devices and development of novel material solutions.

The energy consumption of modern telecommunications infrastructure is growing rapidly. To cope with this increase, future network technologies such as 6G must be designed with a strong focus on energy efficiency. In this context, Fraunhofer IPMS has developed an advanced testbed for Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN). This platform not only enables precise analysis and optimization of energy usage in real-time networks but also demonstrates successful wireless TSN data transmission via Li-Fi, a breakthrough for mobile industrial applications such as autonomous robots or machinery in factory automation.