Research Field Key Technologies

Scientists in the Helmholtz Association's research field Key Technologies work on topics including new components for tomorrow's computers, energy-saving supercomputers, and custom-made materials for use in technology and medicine.

Goals

The goal of research in the field of key technologies is to develop generic technologies that contribute to the future viability of our society.

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Bild: Digitalfotografie, Ralf-Uwe Limbach, Forschungszentrum Jülich

The research programmes pursued in this field cover the spectrum from fundamental research to concrete applications, are based on multidisciplinary collaboration, and make use of an excellent infrastructure specifically catering to large-scale research. Key technologies research at the Helmholtz Association supports the high-tech strategy of the German government, particularly in the areas of bio- and nanotechnology, micro- and nanoelectronics, optical technologies, microsystems and materials technology, and information and communications technology. It is setting the pace for innovation and developing these future technologies in order to secure Germany’s leading position in these fields and to ensure its competitiveness as a location for industry. Our research into key technologies takes into account the recommendations of the Industry-Science Research Alliance concerning the specified fields, the resolutions of the Bio-economy Research and Technology Council, and strategic considerations in the EU regarding key technologies.

Outlook

The research field of key technologies pursues basic and application-oriented research. Energy, health, mobility, safety and communications are all emerging as areas for which sustainable technologies need to be developed. For this reason, the research field is consolidating existing programmes in the areas of materials science, the nanosciences, information and communications technology, and the life sciences. New interdisciplinary topics include technology and simulation in medicine, a sustainable bioeconomy, structural and synthetic biology, along with simulation, data management and data analysis on the exascale. Key technologies researchers are working to develop processes in the materials sciences, physics and chemistry; these will find application in the areas of energy provision, mobility and medical treatments.

Research Programmes

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Supercomputing

The processing of large volumes of data and the modelling of complex systems are important research activities. By focusing on supercomputing and grid computing, this programme provides science in Germany with indispensable infrastructures.

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Fundamentals of Future Information Technology

According to Moore’s Law, the size of components on a chip will continue to shrink at a rapid pace. But how much smaller can these components actually become before they lose their physical functionality?

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NANOMICRO: Science, Technology, Systems

In this programme, new functional microsystem structures made from plastics, metals or ceramics are developed and the application potential of nanostructured materials in such structures is examined.

More details about Research Programme NANOMICRO: Science, Technology, Systems

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Advanced Engineering Materials

This programme develops novel metallic and functional polymer-based materials for lightweight construction in transport and energy technology, for chemical process engineering, for future hydrogen technology and for medical technology.

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BioSoft: Macromolecular Systems and Biological Information Processing

Fascinating research areas are currently emerging alongside new technological approaches at the interface between physics, chemistry and biology. In the area of soft matter, the properties of macromolecules and their cooperative behaviour are examined on length scales ranging from nano- to micrometres.

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BioInterfaces: Molecular and Cellular Interactions at Functional Interfaces

The aim of biologists, chemists, physicists, IT specialists, engineers and mathematicians working together in the BioInterfaces programme, is to control living systems.

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Technology, Innovation and Society

The goal of this interdisciplinary programme across research fields is the investigation of ecological, economic, political, ethical and social aspects associated with new technologies in order to support decisions in politics, industry and society.

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The Programmes in the funding period 2010-2014

Three Helmholtz centres are involved in key technologies research: the Forschungszentrum Jülich, the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Centre for Materials and Coastal Research (HZG), and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The six core programmes in this research field are supplemented by a seventh, “Technology, Innovation and Society”, which is being pursued in cooperation with the field of energy research at the Helmholtz Association.