Milestones

Biogenic value creation and smart farming: Bavarian Economics Minister Aiwanger launches new Fraunhofer site in Triesdorf

The Innovation Campus of the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT) in Merkendorf is now also a Fraunhofer location: Bavaria’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Hubert Aiwanger, launches the biogenic value creation and smart farming project there. In the future, the university and the Fraunhofer IIS Development Center X-ray Technology will conduct joint research – for example, on obtaining seeds from especially heat-tolerant plants.

New location of the Data Efficient Automated Learning research group, part of the Fraunhofer IIS Center for Applied Research on Supply Chain Services SCS in Munich

The Data Efficient Automated Learning group addresses the issue of AI efficiency within the machine learning life cycle, covering the full lifetime of an AI system: data and label acquisition, training of the machine learning model, deployment and maintenance. The group aims to lower barriers to the use of AI solutions in manufacturing and logistics by reducing the need for labeled data and staff capacity within the machine learning life cycle. Here, researchers focus on the data-efficient modeling and transfer of AI solutions and the transparent automation of model creation and operation.

New building opens in Dresden

The south of Dresden is now home to a new office and laboratory building for the Engineering of Adaptive Systems EAS division, significantly improving working conditions for researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Saxony. Their previous workplace had become too small for the growing number of staff, and without any laboratory space to speak of, development possibilities were severely limited in their research areas.

Besides generous office space, the new building now also offers three testing halls integrated into the building as well as numerous electronics laboratories and measuring rooms. And with floor space of some 4,300 square meters, it doubles the previously available space. Moreover, the premises offer good prospects for future growth, potential extension buildings and new employment opportunities. The construction project was supported by the European Union and the Free State of Saxony under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and co-financed by the German government.

Opening of AI showroom in Augustinerhof, Nuremberg

The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS opens its new location in the Augustinerhof in Nuremberg on May 17. In the AI Showroom, visitors can learn about current research on artificial intelligence and try out different applications. Nuremberg Mayor Marcus König attends the opening.

Fraunhofer IIS opens 5G test bed for automotive applications

Before new applications are launched on the market, they are put through an exhaustive battery of tests, some under real conditions. Now, the 5G Bavaria automotive test bed offers companies a realistic environment in which to test 5G mobile communications applications designed for connected driving. Located on the southern outskirts of Rosenheim, the facility features a 5-kilometer test area, covered by a closed 5G network supported by multiple base stations. The controlled, reproducible test area features a varied road network, which includes urban areas with bridges and underpasses as well as sections of the B15 and A8 highways.

Center for Sensor Technology and Digital Medicine opens

Fraunhofer IIS sets up a new Center for Sensor Technology and Digital Medicine in Erlangen in cooperation with Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and the Faculty of Medicine at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.

The new center focuses on the development and evaluation of patient-centered health applications in a clinical setting, as well as the transfer of products and services into mainstream medical care. One key component is the Fraunhofer IIS sensor technology outpatient clinic: occupying 330 square meters, this is a unique infrastructure for the development, integration and validation of innovative health technologies in the clinical environment. Relevant research topics are addressed in four different labs: the Motion Lab, Cardiology Lab, Psycho-Physiology Lab and Medical Data Lab. 

Opening of the Center for Digital Signal Processing using Artificial Intelligence (DSAI)

Under the leadership of Dr. Frederik Nagel, experts from the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS conduct research at the newly founded Center for Digital Signal Processing using Artificial Intelligence (DSAI). The methods of AI help solve problems in digital signal processing for which there have previously been no satisfactory implementations.

Dr. Norman Uhlmann takes over as head of the Development Center X-ray Technology

The new division director is a familiar face: doctor of physics Norman Uhlmann has been an important part of the team at Fraunhofer’s Development Center X-ray Technology EZRT for 13 years. Starting in 2010, he headed the Application-Specific Methods and Systems department there, and as of 2015, he has also held the position of deputy division director. “Not only do we have state-of-the-art technology and smart people, but also optimum conditions in the working environment – in my view, the latter are the most important ingredients for success. These include a great workplace culture, shared values and respectful interactions with each other,” Dr. Uhlmann says. “Only by having these things in place can you unlock your team’s creativity and abilities.”

ADA Lovelace Center: New AI competence center opens at Fraunhofer IIS in Nuremberg

Fraunhofer IIS has created a unique research infrastructure in Bavaria. Its Center for Applied Research on Supply Chain Services SCS collaborates with FAU and LMU Munich, and – along with the participation of the Fraunhofer Institutes IKS and IISB – they establish the ADA Lovelace Center for Analytics, Data and Applications.

Expansion of the institute management by Prof. Alexander Martin

As of November 1, 2019, the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS expands its management. Prof. Alexander Martin joins what is now a three-member management team. He also holds the chair for industrial mathematics at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg and is a department head in Supply Chain Services at Fraunhofer IIS.

Spin-off of JOSEPHS® as an independent company 

More than 50,000 visitors, over 250 events a year and 18 themed worlds with 90 research partners – the JOSEPHS Innovation Lab in Nuremberg’s city center has achieved impressive figures in its first five years. It recently began operating as an independent company. However, close ties to its two previous sponsors, the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS and the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), will continue in the future.

Opening of the Mobile Health Lab Bamberg

The Medical Valley Center Bamberg celebrates its inauguration on May 31. During the ceremony, Bavaria’s Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger announces that funding is being awarded to four projects. Among them are a new Fraunhofer IIS working group called the Mobile Health Lab, and the Digital Health Application Center dmac GmbH, a Medical Valley joint venture with Fraunhofer IIS. The two projects explore digital solutions for cutting-edge medicine and are driving telemedical care forward by bridging the gap between patients and physicians.

Fraunhofer IIS opens site in Passau

The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, headquartered in Erlangen, created a research group at the university devoted to knowledge-based image processing.

Since then, there have been technical and personal connections in that field between the FORWISS Institute at the University of Passau and the Fraunhofer IIS Development Center for X‑ray Technology in Fürth.

The group’s goal is to extract relevant digital information from a wide variety of nondestructive measurement sensor sources – information that permits control or regulation such as is required in process monitoring. This results in increasingly large and highly complex data volumes that can often no longer be processed using traditional digital image processing. The group intends to focus on research and development into image processing strategies and operators with new, intelligent approaches that draw on machine and deep learning.

30 Years Fraunhofer

30 years after their foundation, the Fraunhofer IIS and the Fraunhofer IISB have together made the Metropolitan Region Nürnberg one of the most successful locations in which the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is represented. The anniversary brochure presents 30 highlights from 30 years of Fraunhofer IIS.

• Brochure 30 Years [PDF]

The Leistungszentrum Elektroniksysteme (LZE) starts in Erlangen

The Leistungszentrum Elektroniksysteme LZE (High Performance Center for Electronic Systems) is a joint initiative of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Fraunhofer IIS and IISB and Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen-Nuremberg, in addition to other non-university research institutes and various industry partners. The center is bundling its activities in two key fields of technology: 
high-performance electronics and low-power electronics.

Leistungszentrum Elektroniksysteme (LZE)

Fraunhofer IIS opens new research campus in Waischenfeld

Employees of the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS have been conducting joint research & development activities and seminars at the new Waischenfeld Research Campus in the Franconian Switzerland region of Germany since 2015. Several prominent guests attended the official dedication ceremony held on May 11, including Ilse Aigner, Bavarian Minister for Economic Affairs and Media, Energy and Technology, Stefan Müller, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research and Prof. Dr. Alfred Gossner, member of the executive Board at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.

JOSEPHS – Die Service-Manufaktur

Involving consumers in the product development process with the opening of "JOSEPHS® – Die Service-Manufaktur" in Karl-Grillenberger Str. 3, the city of Nürnberg boasts a new store where visitors participate in the design of new products or services. Through involvement in the development, implementation and marketing of innovative product and service concepts, consumers can help put the finishing touches on the occasional business idea. In three-month cycles, JOSEPHS® will introduce various products and services grouped under different themes which visitors can test and evaluate. The concept will be launched under the theme "Creativity from Hand to Foot".

Fraunhofer IIS dedicates new Fraunhofer Development Center for X-ray Technology in Fürth

On July 11, 2013, the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS dedicated the opening of the new Fraunhofer Development Center for X-Ray Technology in Fürth-Atzenhof, a facility designed especially for developing and optimizing technologies and processes used in the non-destructive testing of materials. Attending the ceremony was Dr. Wolfgang Heubisch, Bavarian State Minister for Science, Research and Culture.

Fraunhofer IIS and University open „Center of Age-Sensitive Services ZAD” in Nuremberg

On June 19, 2013, Fraunhofer IIS and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg opened the Center of Age-Sensitive Services ZAD in Nuremberg as a new hub for companies and individuals with a joint interest in the topics age(ing) and demographic opportunity.

ZAD will provide companies with custom-tailored product concepts and service solutions as well as practices for corporative age management, while  individuals will find comprehensive information, advisory and consultancy services relating to topics such as aging and memory.

The ZAD research and service center is located close to the Nuremberg city center and provides barrier-free web access at www.zad.nuernberg.de

Inauguration of the Fraunhofer Application Center for CT in Metrology at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology

On May 21, 2013, Fraunhofer IIS together with the Deggendorf Institute of Technology and the Wolfgang Pfeiffer Foundation of the industrial partner Intercontect21 opened an application center for contact-free, non-destructive measuring technology based on X-ray computed tomography. The application center was funded in part by the Freistaat Bayern.

Test and Application Center L.I.N.K. opened

On April 26, 2013, Fraunhofer IIS opened the gates of the new Test and Demonstration Center L.I.N.K. bundling the flagship technologies positioning, identification, navigation and embedded communication at its location in Nuremberg. Here scientists have 1,400 square meters of hall and laboratory space plus 10,000 square meters of open-air test ground at their disposal to test and integrate their latest positioning and communications technologies like GPS and Galileo satellite navigation, radio-based positioning, RFID and smart object technologies, as well as WLAN and wireless sensor networks – depending on the application, as stand-alone solutions or in combination with current technologies –offering future-oriented technologies across many industries.

Cornerstone ceremony for the Research Campus Waischenfeld

The symbolic cornerstone for the Fraunhofer Research Campus Waischenfeld was laid down in a ceremony on July 26, 2012, with Bavarian Minister for Economic Affairs Martin Zeil. Construction has progressed rapidly and is scheduled for completion for 2013.

New executive director

On October 1, 2011 Prof. Albert Heuberger was named executive director of Fraunhofer IIS and took over the Chair of Information Technologies with Focus on Communication Electronics (LIKE) from Prof. Heinz Gerhäuser. Prof. Gerhäuser retires after 13 dedicated years in office.

Groundbreaking for Research Campus Waischenfeld

On September 19, 2011 President of District Government Upper Franconia Wilhelm Wenning turned the first shovel of earth at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Fraunhofer Research Campus Waischenfeld. In 2013 unpacking will begin for the first group of research staff.

Research Cornerstone in Atzenhof

Construction for the new Fraunhofer IIS building in Fürth-Atzenhof begins in the summer 2011. It is located directly adjacent to the linear accelerator test center, which was inaugurated in the fall 2010. On June 30, 2011 guest of honor Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs presided over the laying of the foundation stone ceremony. Construction is scheduled to be completed by 2013.

Test and Demonstration Center L.I.N.K.

Construction of the Test and Demonstration Center L.I.N.K. marks a new milestone for the Fraunhofer IIS activities at the Nuremberg Nordostpark.

Fraunhofer IIS Expands “AudioLabs” International Research Center for Audio & Multimedia Technologies

University professors join team of top scientists to drive research and development of digital processing for audio and multimedia signals.

Prof. Dr. Albert Heuberger Appointed University Professor

In April Prof. Dr. Albert Heuberger (r.) is appointed a member of the collegial board of directors at Fraunhofer IIS and is appointed university professor at Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.

Construction at the Fraunhofer linear accelerator test center in Fürth-Atzenhof has been completed after about one year. With 400 square meters of floor space and a ceiling height of 14 meters the test facility is one-of-a-kind in Europe. It will be the home to novel methods for non-destructive computer tomography for large-scale components such as aircraft parts, vehicles, and containers.

From October 26 the two Ilmenau-based student associations “ilmenauer studentenfernsehfunk iSTUFF” (college television) and “hsf studentenradio” (college radio) are broadcasting from the radio mast, which rises to a height of 50 meters at the Fraunhofer test facility Am Vogelherd. Thuringian State Secretary for Media Peter Zimmermann together with Prof. Dr. Albert Heuberger and Prof. Dr. Heinz Gerhäuser of Fraunhofer IIS give the starting signal.

On June 15 construction work begins for future Fraunhofer projects in Fürth-Atzenhof, which is located in the industrial center Nuremberg Metropolitan Region. Four Fraunhofer IIS facilities will conduct research at this location. The ground-breaking ceremony kicked off construction of a linear accelerator center for non-destructive testing of large components such as aircraft carrier surfaces, rotor blades, entire vehicles or even containers.

Fraunhofer IIS builds a radio mast for digital radio at the test facility Am Vogelherd in Ilmenau. Construction began on June 12 with the symbolic first cut of the spade.

On July 31 Fraunhofer IIS celebrates the inauguration of its new extension building in Erlangen-Tennenlohe. Highlights of the new building are the sound laboratory and the fully equipped audio-video recording and postproduction studio for research into advanced audio coding and multimedia technologies. As one of the most important research facilities for Digital Cinema development, the new Fraunhofer building accommodates a “Cinema of the Future” equipped with the Fraunhofer IDMT sound system IOSONO.

The year 2007 marks twenty years of successful audio coding at Fraunhofer IIS. Back in 1987 a breakthrough in audio coding activities was achieved with the introduction of the first real-time implementation of a predecessor of mp3. Fraunhofer IIS commemorates this milestone with a range of events including the release of videocasts. At the ceremony on May 25, 2007 (f.l.): Dr. Jürgen Herre, Harald Popp, both members of mp3 developer team, state minister Dr. Günther Beckstein, Prof. Karlheinz Brandenburg, director Fraunhofer IDMT, Prof. Dieter Seitzer, former director of Fraunhofer IIS, Dr. Bernhard Grill, mp3 developer team, Prof. Heinz Gerhäuser, director Fraunhofer IIS.

Fraunhofer IIS increases its activities at the “Forschungsfabrik” research laboratory in Nuremberg. The research focus of the 65 staff members is “Localization and Communication”. At the inauguration ceremony (f.l.): Hans Spitzner, State Secretary, Dr. Albert Heuberger, Deputy Director Fraunhofer IIS, Prof. Dr. Klaus Meyer-Wegener, Vice Dean of the Erlangen faculty of engineering, Prof. Heinz Gerhäuser, Director Fraunhofer IIS.

Fraunhofer IIS celebrates its 20th anniversary together with high-ranking guests (f. l.): Prof. Karl-Dieter Grüske, rector Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Ministerialdirigent Klaus Jasper, Bavarian Ministry of Economics, Infrastructure, Transportation and Technology, Ministerialrat Manfred Dietrich, Federal Ministry of Culture and Research, Prof. Heinz Gerhäuser, director Fraunhofer IIS, Gerd Lohwasser, mayor of Erlangen, Prof. Heiner Ryssel, director Fraunhofer IISB, Prof. Hans-Jörg Bullinger, president Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Günter Baumüller, vice president IHK Nürnberg.

The working group on electronic media technology AEMT in Ilmenau has evolved to a independent Fraunhofer Institute Digitale Medientechnologie IDMT (electronic media technology) under the leadership of Prof. Karlheinz Brandenburg.

The first live broadcasting of DRM campus radio bit eXpress, a joint project of Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg and Fraunhofer IIS. (from left): Ulrich Rüde, Prodekan of the technical faculty, Prof. Karl-Dieter Grüske, rector of FAU, Prof. Heinz Gerhäuser, head of institute, Peter Senger, Deutsche Welle.

Two new project groups are being put together: Hardware-Software-Co-Design, supervised by Prof. Jürgen Teich (right hand side in picture left), and adaptive system software, supervised by Prof. Wolfgang Schröder-Preikschat (picture right).

Bundling of former Fraunhofer IIS activities in Nuremberg, and moving into newly built research factory at Nordostpark (from left): Dr. Roland Fleck, economic consultant to the city of Nuremberg, Erwin Huber, Bavarian minister of state, Prof. Heinz Gerhäuser, director of the institute, Prof. Klaus Feldmann, director of the chair of manufacturing automation and production systems at FAU, Dr. Bernd Kottmann, IVG Immobilien AG, and Dr. Ulrich Maly, mayor of Nuremberg.

Fraunhofer's own institute building in Erlangen-Tennenlohe is completed and move-in has begun.

Visitation of Federal President Johannes Rau (sitting down) at Fraunhofer IIS on the occassion of the award of the Deutscher Zukunftspreis (from left): Elvira Gerhäuser, director of press and public relations, Dr. Siegfried Balleis, mayor of Erlangen, Gerd Lohwasser, vice mayor of Erlangen, Prof. Heinz Gerhäuser, director of the institute, Prof. Karlheinz Brandenburg.

Federal President Johannes Rau (3rd from left) awards "Deutschen Zukunftspreis" for MP3 development. Harald Popp, Prof. Karlheinz Brandenburg, and Bernhard Grill (from left) receive it representatively for the team of about 40 developers.

Dr. Karlheinz Brandenburg (on right) is appointed professor at technical university Ilmenau.

Laying of the cornerstone for first construction stage of own insitute building in Erlangen-Tennenlohe.

Fraunhofer workgroup for electronic media technology AEMT launched in Ilmenau, supervised by Dr. Karlheinz Brandenburg.

Albert Heuberger is appointed representative director of the institute.

Dr. Heinz Gerhäuser is appointed professor at Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg. Set up of his chair of information technologies with focus on communication electronics begins.

Dr. Günter Elst is appointed honorary professor at Technical University Dresden. He is being congratulated by Elvira Gerhäuser, director of press and public relations.

Fraunhofer IIS assumes a complex of buildings on Großer Kornberg in the Fichtelgebirge to be set up as a radio test point.

Prof. Dieter Seitzer retires from his position as a professor, and withdraws as director of the institute. Dr. Heinz Gerhäuser becomes of Fraunhofer IIS' new director in charge.

Headed by Dr. Randolf Hanke, the development center for x-ray technology is launched. The development center is a mutual department of Fraunhofer IIS, Erlangen and Fraunhofer IZFP, Saarbrücken. After 2000, the development center is located in Fürth (picture).

Fraunhofer-Center for Applied Research on Traffic Logisitcs and Communication Technology AVK launched in Nuremberg, headed by Prof. Peter Klaus.

Dr. Heinz Gerhäuser is called into Fraunhofer IIS' institutional administration.

Facilities for automation of circuit and system design EAS, a branch of Fraunhofer IIS, established in Dresden, headed by Dr. Günter Elst.

Foundation of Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS (from left): Prof. Nikolaus Fiebiger, Prof. Gotthard Jasper, vice chancellor of University Erlangen-Nürnberg, August Lang, Bavarian minister of state for economic affairs and commerce, and Dr. Gustl Drechsler, IHK-Präsident (r.), all congratulate director Prof. Dieter Seitzer (2nd from right).

The center for microelectronics and information technology ZMI is accepted into the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as work group for integrated circuits AIS. The »electronic shoe« is one of the first big projects. It is first presented July 1st, 1985, at the ISPO in Munich by Dipl.-Ing. Ernst Eberlein, F. Rückert und Dr. Heinz Gerhäuser (from left)

Förderkreis für die Mikroelektronik e.V. and IHK Nürnberg für Mittelfranken launch the center for microelectronics and information technology GmbH ZMI. Dr. Anton Jaumann, Bavarian minister of state for economic affairs and commerce, presents a symbolic key to CEO Prof. Dieter Seitzer (left).