| Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS |
| Native name | Fraunhofer-Institut für Integrierte Schaltungen IIS |
| Caption | Logo of the Fraunhofer Society |
| Formation | 1985 |
| Type | Research institute |
| Headquarters | Erlangen, Germany |
| Location | Dresden, Germany |
| Leader title | Director |
| Parent organization | Fraunhofer Society |
| Affiliations | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Technische Universität Dresden |
Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS
The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS is a research institute within the Fraunhofer Society focused on applied research in microelectronics, signal processing and system design. In the context of Dresden, the institute plays a role in the region's semiconductor and microelectronics ecosystem known as "Silicon Saxony", supporting technology transfer between academic research and industry. The Dresden site contributes expertise in integrated circuit design, sensors, and audio and multimedia technologies, interfacing with local universities, research centers and manufacturing firms.
Fraunhofer IIS was founded in 1985 in Erlangen and later expanded activities to other German cities to increase proximity to industrial clusters. The Dresden presence developed in response to the growth of microelectronics after German reunification and the emergence of Silicon Saxony as a major European semiconductor cluster. The Dresden branch built strategic ties with Technische Universität Dresden and regional development agencies to attract projects funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the European Union. Over time the Dresden operation evolved from collaborative projects and contract research to hosting pilot fabrication, test laboratories and multidisciplinary teams focused on system-level integration.
Research at the Dresden site concentrates on integrated circuits and system design for communications, sensor systems and audio/multimedia processing. Core technical domains include microsystems, mixed-signal and radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs), low-power embedded systems, semiconductor packaging and heterogeneous integration. The institute also addresses digital signal processing for audio codecs and hearing aids, building on Fraunhofer IIS’s role in developing standards such as the MP3 and MPEG technologies (central activities historically associated with the parent institute). In Dresden, emphasis is placed on technologies relevant to advanced manufacturing: design for testability, 3D integration, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and sensor fusion for industrial automation and mobility applications. Work at the site often combines competence in microelectronics with applied fields such as automotive systems and Industry 4.0 manufacturing solutions.
The Dresden facility hosts cleanroom-equipped laboratories for prototyping, analogue/digital test benches, acoustic measurement rooms and environmental test chambers used for reliability and qualification. These facilities are integrated into a network of regional assets including the Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed) and the Fraunhofer branch network. Fraunhofer IIS Dresden partners with Technische Universität Dresden departments (electrical engineering, microelectronics, and materials science), the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids and other local research organizations. Collaborative projects commonly receive co-funding from the Saxon State Ministry for Science and the Arts and pan-European research programmes such as Horizon Europe. The institute also participates in consortia organized by Silicon Saxony e.V. and cooperates with national infrastructures like the German Research Foundation-funded initiatives and the European Space Agency on selected sensor and communication projects.
Fraunhofer IIS Dresden maintains partnerships with multinational and regional companies in semiconductor design, automotive suppliers, and consumer electronics, providing contract research, IP licensing and prototyping services. These collaborations often lead to technology transfer, productization and the creation of spin-offs focused on niche technologies such as sensor modules, audio algorithms, or test systems. The institute has contributed to commercialization efforts alongside companies headquartered in Dresden and Saxony, including semiconductor firms and system integrators in the automotive supplier industry. Licensing of codecs and signal-processing IP historically tallied with Fraunhofer IIS’s global licensing activity; Dresden activity channels this heritage into regional embedded-systems and manufacturing markets. The institute also supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through joint development and access to its labs and pilot production capabilities.
Education and workforce development are central to the Dresden site’s mission. Fraunhofer IIS Dresden supervises diploma, master's and doctoral students in cooperation with Technische Universität Dresden and runs vocational training and continuing-education courses targeting engineers from the local semiconductor and automation sectors. The institute organizes workshops, technical seminars and participates in public events such as open-house days and regional innovation festivals to communicate research outcomes to industry and the general public. Outreach activities include internship programmes for students, collaboration in curriculum development for microelectronics and audio engineering, and joint training initiatives with companies to address regional skills needs in Silicon Saxony. Through these activities Fraunhofer IIS contributes to maintaining Dresden’s talent pipeline for high-technology industries.
Category:Fraunhofer Society Category:Research institutes in Germany Category:Organisations based in Dresden