FAQ

The "Research Fab Microelectronics Germany," FMD for its German acronym, is a cross-location research cooperation of 13 Fraunhofer and two Leibniz institutes in micro- and nanoelectronics research and development. The idea behind it is a one-stop shop for R&D services, application solutions, and new technologies at a high technology readiness level for many different customers from the industry.

The following Fraunhofer and Leibniz Institutes have been cooperating in the FMD since 2017:

• Ferdinand Braun Institute, Leibniz Institute for Highest Frequency Technology (FBH) in Berlin
• Fraunhofer Institute for Microsystems and Solid State Technologies EMFT in Munich
• Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nano Systems ENAS in Chemnitz
• Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR in Wachtberg
• Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute, HHI in Berlin
• Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF in Freiburg
• Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen, Dresden und Ilmenau
• Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology IISB in Erlangen
• Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS in Duisburg
• Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS in Dresden
• Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology ISIT in Itzehoe
• Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM in Berlin and Moritzburg
• Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics (IHP) in Frankfurt/Oder

Since 2024, and as part of the APECS pilot line, the FMD range has been complemented by the

• Fraunhofer Institute for Applied and Integrated Security AISEC in Garching near Munich
• Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS in Halle

In the FMD, 15 research institutes cooperate in a virtual organization. The business activities and strategic development of the FMD are coordinated by the central office in Berlin. The office (merged with the office of the Fraunhofer Group for Microelectronics in 2021) serves as a central point of contact for inquiries from industry, research, and politics, as well as for pioneering cross-institute research collaborations. In addition, the office team is responsible for cross-institute and cross-organizational strategy and public relations work.

As a one-stop shop, FMD tackles current and future challenges in electronics research across locations and technologies and provides essential development impetus for tomorrow's technology. More than 5,400 employees, including more than 2,900 researchers, contribute their know-how in the field of research and development of micro- and nanosystems across institutes.

The FMD pools the expertise of the 13 Fraunhofer Institutes of the Group for Microelectronics and the Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik (FBH), as well as the Leibniz-Institut für innovative Mikroelektronik (IHP) under one virtual roof. This makes the FMD a central point of contact for all issues relating to microelectronics and nanoelectronics in Germany and Europe.

In addition to technological offerings in the fields of sensor systems, power electronics, MEMS actuators, microwave and terahertz, extended CMOS, chip and chiplet design, optoelectronic systems, and multi-project technologies, the FMD also offers various opportunities for cooperation in the processing of research issues in the focus areas of resource efficiency, next-generation computing, security, mobility, production, and communication. In addition to coordinating large collaborative projects, such as "Green ICT @ FMD" or "FMD-QNC," FMD also supports start-ups, SMEs, and research groups with programs such as the "Green ICT Space" or the "QNC Space."

As a contribution to the “EU Chips Act”, the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany (FMD) started the development of the most comprehensive and advanced pilot line for chip integration for innovative, robust and trustworthy heterogeneous systems at the end of 2024. The pilot line for “Advanced Packaging and Heterogeneous Integration for Electronic Components and Systems” (APECS for short) is an important building block of the EU Chips Act to drive chiplet innovation and increase research and manufacturing capacity for semiconductors in Europe. The institutes cooperating in the FMD are working closely with other European partners to set up the APECS pilot line and are making a significant contribution to strengthening Europe's technological resilience as well as increasing global competitiveness in the semiconductor industry. The pilot line will provide large industrial companies as well as SMEs and start-ups with low-threshold access to cutting edge technologies and ensure secure, resilient semiconductor value chains. APECS is co-funded by Chips Joint Undertaking and by national funding from Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal and Spain as part of the “Chips for Europe” initiative. The total funding for the APECS pilot line amounts to 730 million euros over 4.5 years. The APECS pilot line builds on the structures created within the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany. In Germany, a total of twelve institutes of the Fraunhofer Group for Microelectronics and the two Leibniz institutes FBH and IHP are involved in APECS. The work is directed by the FMD office in Berlin.

• "APECS": Advanced Packaging and Heterogeneous Integration for Electronic Components and Systems
  
• "FMD-QNC": Customized microelectronics production through scalable manufacturing and integration processes for innovative computing technologies
  
• "Green ICT @ FMD": Competence center for sustainable information and communication technology

The broad technology portfolio of the 15 institutes cooperating in the FMD includes sensor systems, power electronics, MEMS actuators, microwave and terahertz, extended CMOS, chip and chiplet design, optoelectronic systems, and multi-project technologies.

Micro- and nanoelectronics are key industries for all relevant industrial sectors in Germany and Europe. Based on its comprehensive technology and competence portfolio, FMD offers application solutions in the focus areas of "resource efficiency," "security," "next-generation computing," "mobility," "production," and "communication" - all from a single source. This enables customers to implement combined and optimized system solutions with FMD, thus securing an innovative edge in international competition.

The FMD and its 15 cooperating institutes are represented in the following cities: Berlin, Chemnitz, Duisburg, Dresden, Erlangen, Frankfurt/Oder, Freiburg, Garching n. Munich, Halle (Saale), Itzehoe, Munich, Nuremberg, and Wachtberg.

Germany's economy thrives on the export of technologically advanced products. Micro- and nanoelectronics are key industries for all relevant industrial sectors in Germany and Europe. However, the share of German and European microelectronics in the global market has steadily declined in recent years. Therefore, we must focus on our existing strengths and implement the necessary innovations to expand our position in international competition and promote the technological resilience of Germany and Europe.

Approaches and solutions for sustainable information and communication technologies, trustworthy and secure electronics, or new computing technologies, for example, can only be researched, developed, and implemented through the consistent pooling of expertise.

In January 2017, a concept for the "Research Fab Microelectronics Germany" (FMD) was submitted to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research by a consortium consisting of the eleven (today 13) Fraunhofer Institutes of the Group for Microelectronics and the industry-relevant semiconductor research institutes of the Leibniz Association (FBH, IHP). On April 6, 2017, the then Federal Research Minister Prof. Johanna Wanka presented the Fraunhofer Group for Microelectronics and the two Leibniz Institutes FBH and IHP in Berlin, with the approval notices for a total of 350 million euros for the modernization of their research infrastructure, thus launching this new cooperation model for German microelectronics research.

After 3.5 years of development, the FMD was made permanent on April 22, 2021, and officially went into regular operation.

As a contribution to the “EU Chips Act”, the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany (FMD) started the establishment of the most comprehensive and advanced pilot line for chip integration for innovative, robust and trustworthy heterogeneous systems at the end of 2024. The pilot line for “Advanced Packaging and Heterogeneous Integration for Electronic Components and Systems” (APECS for short) is an important building block of the EU Chips Act to drive chiplet innovation and increase research and manufacturing capacity for semiconductors in Europe. The institutes cooperating in the FMD are working closely with other European partners to set up the APECS pilot line and are thus making a significant contribution to strengthening Europe's technological resilience and thus increasing global competitiveness in the semiconductor industry.

The investments in the FMD are the basis for the future viability of applied microelectronics research in Germany. Investments were made primarily in the modernization and expansion of the research infrastructure at the participating institutes. The new equipment and facilities have significantly expanded capabilities for developing and producing innovative electronic semiconductor chips and microsystem components, e.g., for sensor technology. In addition to growing and renewing the research infrastructure of the 15 institutes, processes were established that enable the joint use and provision of this research equipment (devices, laboratories, clean rooms) for customers.

In addition, cross-technology and cross-institute R&D concepts for optimal cooperation with industry and programs for start-ups were developed, and the transition to regular operations from 2021 was prepared. Subsequent largescale projects such as the “APECS” pilot line, launched at the end of 2024, “Green ICT @ FMD” (competence center for sustainable information and communication technology) or “FMD-QNC” (“Research Fab Microelectronics Germany - Module Quantum and Neuromorphic Computing”) build on the offers, structures and competencies created with the FMD and enable a targeted and efficient implementation of planned projects.

The name “FMD” is a registered word mark (registration number: 302023118127) of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft at the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA). It stands for the bundled scientific expertise and close cooperation of the Fraunhofer and Leibniz Institutes cooperating in the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany, FMD for short.