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 and roles

In the research field of Key Technologies, scientists of the Helmholtz Association predominantly work on generic technologies with their promise of new methods and innovative solutions as regards the great challenges our society faces.

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Bild: Digitalfotografie, Ralf-Uwe Limbach, Forschungszentrum Jülich

In particular, this includes work in areas such as Nano electronics, nanotechnology, microsystems technology, technologies at the interface between biology and physics, advanced engineering materials and supercomputing. Supercomputers have become the third pillar of scientific research alongside theory and experiment.They allow the simulation of complex systems and testing of hypotheses, providing us with new insights into the hidden realms of reality. Novel materials with tailor-made properties make it possible to develop innovative products, such as storage media with increased capacities, energy-saving lightweight materials for vehicles and biocompatible implants for medical applications. In areas where application potential has been identified, research is intensified until the innovations are ready for use in specific applications.

Technological advances and pioneering innovations are set in motion by basic research and creative work. Thus Nobel Laureate Peter Grünberg illustrated with the detection of the GMR effect, how results from research can be translated into future key technologies, which lead to innovative products with high economic and industrial relevance within 10-15 years. The Helmholtz Centres in Jülich, Karlsruhe and Geesthacht are pooling their broad-based expertise and interdisciplinary potential to lay the foundation for the next generation of key technologies. An especially high potential for innovation has been identified at the interfaces between disciplines – involving physics, chemistry, materials science, the life sciences and nanotechnology.

This potential can be exploited on several levels and is strongly supported by modelling and simulation. Helmholtz-specific technology platforms cooperate closely in this together with select universities. They function as focal points for a broad user community made up of universities and industry. As a large-scale facility with high visibility, the Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) with multi-petaflop performance has been firmly established as part of the German Gauss Centre for Supercomputing and as an architect of the Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe (PRACE). JSC’s unique supercomputer infrastructure is offered through PRACE to all scientific research communities in Europe.

The research field supports the German federal government’s high-tech strategy, specifically in the fields bio- and nanotechnology, micro- and Nano electronics, optical technologies, microsystem and materials technology as well as information and communication technology. The research field sets the pace for innovation and develops these fields of the future, which will secure Germany’s leading position and consolidate its economic strength.

Research on the next generation of generic key technologies is built upon a broad scientific basis. This allows the potential advantages to be identified and the opportunities and risks for society to be evaluated.

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.

More details about Research Programme Technology, Innovation and Society

The Programmes in the funding period 2010-2014

The research field Key Technologies was re-launched with six programmes on 1 January 2010. In addition, it will contribute to the Technology, Innovation and Society programme in cooperation with the research field Energy. This work is characterised by close cooperation with the industry and by the coordination of networks linking research institutions and commercial enterprises. The research field unites the common interests of science and industry and acts in a concerted manner within the European Union and on the international stage. The scientists involved also liaise with companies and associations, and provide information for political decision makers on the opportunities and risks associated with new technologies. Wherever existing competencies complement each other, they are used for cooperations across programmes. The research fields Energy, Aeronautics, Space and Transport, Health and Earth and Environment also benefit from work on the key technologies.