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With the power to create unbreakable encryption, supercharge the development of artificial intelligence, and radically expedite the development of new drug treatments, quantum technology will revolutionize our world. On the 19th-20th April 2023, the quantum journey will begin in Prague with the kick-off meeting of the Qu-Test and Qu-Pilot project.
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Brain-computer interfaces are able to return some of their mobility to paralyzed people by controlling exoskeletons. However, more complex control signals cannot yet be read from the head surface because conventional sensors are not sensitive enough. A collaboration of Fraunhofer IAF, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, University of Stuttgart and other industrial partners has taken up this challenge: In the recently launched NeuroQ lighthouse project, the project partners develop highly sensitive diamond-based quantum sensors that will enable paralyzed people to control neural exoskeletons more precisely.
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The RADIOBLOCKS project, coordinated by JIV-ERIC and including major European research infrastructures for radio astronomy, together with partners from industry and academia, have been granted 10 M€ by the European Commission to develop “common building blocks” for technological solutions beyond state-of-the-art, that will enable a broad range of new science and enhance European scientific competitiveness. The RADIOBLOCKS project will start on 1 March 2023.
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To meet the world’s rapidly growing data consumption and increasing bandwidth requirements, satellite communications are shifting to higher frequencies. The W-band (75–110 GHz) is well suited for use in space, but technical components have been lacking so far. For this reason, Fraunhofer IAF has launched the BEACON project: Together with researchers from RPG-Radiometer Physics, a novel W-band receive front-end module is to be realized as part of the ESA ARTES program. The goal is to develop a technology that is lower in noise than any previous W-band amplifier module and thus enables the transfer of extremely high data rates through space.
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In order to consolidate and expand the existing microelectronic research and development in Germany regarding quantum and neuromorphic computing, the FMD launched on December 1, 2022, a joint project together with four other Fraunhofer institutes, the Jülich Forschungszentrum and AMO GmbH: The Research Fab Microelectronics Germany — Module Quantum and Neuromorphic Computing (FMD-QNC). The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding the equipment and structural setup required for the project.
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Early detection of possible failures and fires by detecting overheated areas (also known as hot spots) in passenger and freight transport has the potential to significantly increase safety in road and rail traffic. However, previous approaches do not adequately meet the requirements for contactless and seamless thermographic monitoring of vehicles. In the BMBF-funded project BiCam, Fraunhofer IAF and DIAS Infrared GmbH are developing an outdoor camera system over a period of two years that combines eSWIR and NIR spectral ranges. The system will for the first time enable continuous visual and thermographic monitoring of flowing traffic.
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European research team developed compact, low-cost energy-saving chips made of the semiconductor material gallium nitride. This opens up a new dimension of energy efficiency in wireless charging of electric cars, in integrating renewable energies into the power grid and enables a sustainable 5G rollout.
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Aiming to contribute to the reduction of the digital technologies' footprint via research and development, the Fraunhofer and Leibniz institutes cooperating within the framework of the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany (FMD for its acronym in German) are jointly establishing a cross-location competence center for resource-conscious information and communication technology (Green ICT @ FMD). The project, launched on August 1, 2022, is receiving 34 million euros in funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under the Green ICT initiative. The latter is in turn part of the German government's Climate Action Programme 2030.
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6G mobile communications is expected to pave the way for innovative applications such as Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Internet of Things in everyday life from 2030. This will require a much higher performance capability than that of the current 5G mobile standard, involving new hardware solutions. At EuMW 2022, Fraunhofer IAF will therefore present an energy-efficient GaN-based transmitter module for the 6G-relevant frequency ranges above 70 GHz, which was developed jointly with Fraunhofer HHI. The high performance of the module has already been demonstrated at Fraunhofer HHI.
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NV-doped diamond is one of the most promising materials for the realization of quantum technologies. So far, however, the availability in industrially suitable quality and quantity is severely limited. In the BMBF-funded project GrodiaQ, Fraunhofer IAF is developing innovative processes and equipment in cooperation with five German companies to enable the industrial use of (111)-oriented diamond substrates and the establishment of a European supply chain for quantum devices.
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Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF