From Research to Application: Projects at Fraunhofer EMFT

Nature sets a high bar: Our brain is capable of processing and storing huge amounts of information without using more energy than a 20-watt light bulb. This is a good reason for researchers worldwide to take the human brain as a model for circuits in so-called neuromorphic chips. Within the EU project NeurONN, a Fraunhofer EMFT research team is working with six European partners on extremely energy-efficient elements and architectures for neuromorphic computing. Innovative 2D materials are also being used in the process.

How can supply chains for the chip industry become more independent and better protected? The coronavirus pandemic in particular has highlighted the problems for Germany and Europe. In the "Semiconductor-X" research project on the digitalization of supply chains in the semiconductor industry, Fraunhofer EMFT is working with over 20 partners to make supply chains more sustainable and resilient and to promote decentralized, sovereign data exchange.

Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institutes for Biomedical Engineering (IBMT) in Sulzbach/Saar and the Fraunhofer EMFT in Regensburg are working together with the companies nanoAnalytics GmbH (Münster) and innoMe GmbH (Espelkamp) on a new measurement method for testing the effectiveness of vaccines in the ViroSens project.

3D tissue models offer a drug development alternative to animal testing, enabling precise cell activity monitoring beyond optical limits.

Within the SOIL project, Fraunhofer EMFT develops FDSOI IP blocks to boost Europe's next-generation chipindustry.

In the EU research project SUPREME, 23 partners from 8 member states are pooling their expertise to advance the development of stable manufacturing processes for superconducting quantum chips. The R&D activities specifically address the challenges related to the stability and yield of qubits – crucial factors for the scaling of quantum technologies and thus for Europe’s competitiveness in the global quantum hardware market.

Fraunhofer EMFT is conducting research on miniaturized suction probes for soil water analysis. The goal is to enable demand-based fertilization by real-time monitoring of the nitrate content in soil water.

In the project ‘Insect cells as sensors for environmental toxins’, Fraunhofer EMFT is developing a novel test method in which living insect cells are used as sensitive biosensors. This allows even the smallest toxic effects of pesticides to be detected quickly, without labelling and automatically. The aim is to identify risks at an early stage and support the development of bee-friendly pesticides – an important contribution to the protection of insects and biodiversity.

Efficient use of resources while maintaining high yields from the fields has become a central topic for agriculture. Monitoring various plant parameters, such as their water or nutrient content, plays an important role here. Currently, such parameters are deducted from soil samples by complex and lengthy processes in laboratories. The scientists at Fraunhofer EMFT are working on the development of reliable and faster methods to monitor relevant plant parameters.

Cynergy4MIE is an EU-funded research project aimed at developing a platform for sensor technology, electronics and AI in mobility, infrastructure and energy systems. The goal is to accelerate innovation and strengthen Europe's competitiveness.