Fraunhofer IIS, the world’s renowned source of audio and multimedia technologies, today announced the expansion of the International Audio Laboratories Erlangen (AudioLabs), an international research center focusing on digital processing of audio and multimedia signals. To help drive the organization’s key initiatives for the next decade, three professors were newly appointed to the joint institution between Fraunhofer IIS and the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg. Fraunhofer is also seeking top scientists from around the world to further grow the organization.

The addition of Prof. Dr. Jürgen Herre, Prof. Dr. Bernd Edler and Prof. Dr. Emanuël Habets to the organization’s team of more than 20 internationally renowned scientists, will further drive AudioLabs’ cutting-edge research and lead the development of technologies in the fields of audio coding, audio signal analysis and perceptual spatial audio signal processing.

“Fraunhofer’s extensive history and expertise in the field of audio and multimedia technologies, coupled with the university’s highly-talented scientists from several disciplines, is the ideal combination for driving innovation and ground-breaking research in this space,” said Dr. Bernhard Grill, representative AudioLabs at Fraunhofer IIS. “AudioLabs will continue to help leverage ongoing projects for Fraunhofer’s audio and multimedia division and benefit from Fraunhofer’s expanding capacities with the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, a leader in research and teaching.”

The close cooperation between the university and the Fraunhofer IIS creates a unique organization with competencies ranging from basic research and teaching, to technology implementation in innovative multimedia systems. Fraunhofer IIS provided a budget to fund AudioLabs for an initial period of ten years.

“The international presence and outstanding atmosphere at AudioLabs attracts the best and brightest scientists from all over the world, as well as the top students from German universities,” said Prof. Jürgen Herre, University of Erlangen- Nürnberg. “Working with Fraunhofer, we look forward to continuous innovation and adding further research topics.”

Fraunhofer will hold a reception and introduction of AudioLabs by Prof. Jürgen Herre at the AES Convention in London from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on May 13 in Room 1.