Press Releases of Fraunhofer EMFT

After three years of intensive collaboration, the European ICOS project has presented its final recommendations for strengthening the semiconductor industry in Europe. The report shows how international cooperation, targeted technological priorities and strategic partnerships can help translate Europe's research strength into industrial leadership and sustainably strengthen its role in the global semiconductor value chain.

Changes at the helm of one of Europe's largest technology organizations: Prof. Dr. Christoph Kutter replaces Alf Hendryk Wulf as president of the VDE. His presidency will focus on the next generation and the microelectronics of the future.

Oxford, 05 November 2025 – Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Microsystems and Solid State Technologies EMFT today announced a strategic partnership designed to accelerate the industrialisation of superconducting quantum technologies. By merging OQC’s system-level quantum expertise with Fraunhofer’s advanced fabrication capabilities, the partnership charts a new course towards scalable, manufacturable quantum computing. The collaboration represents a pivotal step in OQC’s journey towards fabless production, aligning superconducting quantum devices with industry-standard, CMOS-compatible processes that underpin global semiconductor manufacturing.

Agriculture is under considerable pressure to adapt. Climate change, resource scarcity, and growing sustainability demands require efficient solutions. At the same time, farms are expected to remain competitive and ensure reliable food supplies. From November 9 to 15, 2025, seven Fraunhofer Institutes will showcase the role of smart sensor technology, AI-supported analyses, and sustainable materials at AGRITECHNICA in Hannover, Germany (Hall 17, Booth B15).

The topic of chip design has developed into a central strategic competence at the Fraunhofer EMFT in recent years. In order to further optimize its R&D portfolio, the Munich-based institute will cooperate closely with Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rainer Holmer from OTH Regensburg in the future. Such close research cooperation with a Fraunhofer Institute is a unique opportunity for a university of applied sciences and underlines OTH Regensburg's high level of expertise in this field. The focus of the cooperation is on test development in the field of chips and systems, in which Prof. Holmer will provide significant new impetus. For OTH Regensburg, this closer cooperation, which began in 2024, marks a further milestone in positioning Eastern Bavaria as a strong location in the global semiconductor industry.

The development and characterization of scalable quantum hardware is a key factor for bringing quantum computing to real life applications. Researchers at Fraunhofer EMFT are working on innovative approaches to push this development. At this year´s World of Quantum, taking place from June 24-26 in Munich, our research team will present several demonstrators from its quantum technology research program, which showcase the seamless integration of scientific excellence and engineering expertise.

The European Union consortium PREVAIL, created to accelerate the development of next-generation edge-AI technologies, will open its services to external customers in June 2025. Coordinated by the EU’s four leading research and technology organizations (RTOs) - CEA-Leti in France, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Germany, imec in Belgium and VTT in Finland, the PREVAIL project provides a networked, multi-hub platform for prototype chip fabrication in advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology to EU stakeholders.

On March 31, 2025, at the Hannover Messe, the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany (Forschungsfabrik Mikroelektronik Deutschland FMD) officially unveiled its new Chiplet Application Hub. Designed to serve as a central platform for the development and application of chiplet technologies, the hub aims to bridge the gap between research and industrial use. By working closely with industry partners, the hub accelerates the development of chiplets made in Germany, elevating industrial research to a new level. At the national level, it complements FMD’s role in the Chips for Europe Initiative, further reinforcing Germany’s technological resilience. The hub's research, development, and prototyping activities build on the infrastructure of the APECS pilot line, ensuring direct pathways to industrial application.

Laboratory-cultured cells have been considered as a substitute method to reduce animal testing in drug development or toxicity testing of chemicals for many years. In the T-Sense-3D project, Fraunhofer EMFT researchers are working with partners from industry and research to develop a high-precision analytical tool for assessing the efficacy and toxicity of drugs and chemicals.