Research Institutes
• Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK)
The Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) at the University of Freiburg is unique in Europe. The scientific scope of the institute, with 21 faculty and over 300 research and technical staff, encompasses nearly all technical fields relevant to the highly interdisciplinary world of microsystem technology. Through the depth and range of our activities, we are one of the internationally leading academic research departments in this innovative field. IMTEK has an excellent and wide-ranging technical infrastructure. Facilities like the cleanroom or the mechanical workshop are run as “Service Centers” for the benefit of all IMTEK research groups. In addition, a wide range of specialized equipment (including, for example, XPS and NMR tools or injection molding and hot embossing facilities) are made available at the different Laboratories. Research & teaching go hand in hand at IMTEK. The excellence of the scientific work translates directly into outstanding academic offerings to the students. Thereby, theory and practice form a tightly interwoven educational program. The broad expertise of the IMTEK forms an ideal environment for the research on micro energy harvesting.
• Freiburg Material Research Center (FMF)
The Freiburg Materials Research Center as a central research institute of the Albert-Ludwig University of Freiburg is a interdisciplinary platform of the six faculties: Mathematics and Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Medicine, Biology, Chemistry, Pharmaceutics and Geosciences, and Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences. The FMF is successfully doing interdisciplinary basic research in the field of new materials and materials-related technologies since 1990. Recently, the research on nanomaterials in different application fields receives more attention.
• Department of Computer Science (IIF)
The Department of Computer Science (IIF) is one of the newest teaching and research facilities at the University of Freiburg. The IIF currently has some 14 professors and approximately 110 research assistants working with us at the IIF, in a total of 17 research groups spread over six divisions. They cover a broad spectrum of teaching and research topics which range from computer graphics to artificial intelligence, from algorithmics to software technology, and from communication systems to applications in engineering and the life sciences. The IIF also takes part in large interdisciplinary research projects and is active in special areas of research on both a national and international level.
• Fraunhofer-Institute for Solar Energy Systeme (ISE)
The Fraunhofer-Institut for Solar Energy Systeme (ISE) is the largest research institute on solar energy in Europe. Additionally, the ISE is a leading R&D service supplier for thermal and solar generators and system applications. The Institute's work ranges from fundamental scientific research relating to solar energy applications, through the development of production technology and prototypes, to the construction of demonstration systems. One group in the division of power engineering works on fuel cell as alternative to primary or secondary batteries.With this expertise, the ISE supports the fuel cell research in the PhD Program "Micro energy harvesting".
• Fraunhofer-Institut for Physical Measurement Techniques (IPM)
The Fraunhofer-Institut for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM develops customized measurement techniques and systems for industrial applications. The Institute has advanced experiences in optical systems and functional materials. This forms the basis for high-tech solutions in the field of optical exposure, spectroscopy, Terahertz monitoring, thermoelectrics and integrated sensors
• HSG-IMIT
HSG-IMIT (Institut für Mikro- und Informationstechnik) is an application-oriented research and development provider for micro-technical components and systems.
Promoting awareness of and facilitating access to this technologies are the main tasks of HSG-IMIT acting as a service centre providing specific consulting, advanced training, technological services, feasibility studies, prototyping, small scale production as well as serial production in cooperation with industrial companies. Its outstanding strengths lie in complete attention, from the idea through to the finished product, and a short "time-to-market" period.
• Research Training Group „Embedded Microsystems“
The PhD Program "Embedded Microsystems" of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Freiburg started in 2005. The research train group focuses on the advanced development of embedded hardware and software systems. Thereby, components are miniaturized and accompanied by sensors to form embedded microsystems. Decreasing size and increasing communication skills opens up new application fields and reduces costs. Hence, more devices can be deployed to form an intelligent and powerful overall system. The PhD Program "Embedded Microsystems" and the PhD Program "Micro Energy Harvesting" complement each other excellently. In many applications, energy harvesters are deployed to form energy autonomous and embedded microsystems. Thereby, the power management is benifits from the research in the framework of the Research Training Group „Embedded Microsystems“.