Annual report 2023 online

Dear readers,

In 2023, IMMS was comprehensively evaluated on behalf of the German Land of Thüringen by the Scientific Commission of the Land of Niedersachsen and its appointed experts. The strategic orientation and development, research and transfer activities, organisation, equipment, teaching, cooperation and public relations work were all put to the test. The role of IMMS as an active, flexible, fast and equal partner for SMEs in the region was emphasised by the evaluation committee as essential and the course we have set for ourselves with our strategy was considered consistent and meaningful. To strengthen this focus, the commission has drawn up recommendations for the growth and further development of IMMS. After evaluating the recommendations from 2024 together with the TMWWDG Ministry, these will be concretised for implementation.

2023 was also characterised by increased recruiting activities: We travelled to more careers fairs, joined forces with Thuringian universities to expand the Long Nights of the Sciences in Ilmenau and Erfurt to include offers for study orientation and internship searches, provided a careers playlist with student video interviews on our YouTube channel and set up an online application platform.

To our great delight, our employees received awards such as the Silicon Science Award and the iENA silver medal in 2023, and a dissertation developed from IMMS research projects was successfully defended.

The year 2023 was used intensively to achieve important milestones in R&D projects and industry contracts in our three research fields. This report highlights a selection of these. Among other things, we have realised a miniaturised CMOS ISFET sensor and highly sensitive SPAD-based image sensors for in-vitro diagnostics, developed intelligent communications solutions for monitoring particulate matter and road lamp defects and created virtual safety zones for truck cranes, supported research for a novel technology platform with a graphene-based field-effect transistor for in-vitro multi-parameter analysis with the development of miniaturised measurement technology, implemented a compact mixed-signal test system for characterising semiconductor memories and found new ways for unconventional, lateral measurements with laser focus sensors for nanopositioning systems.

We would like to thank our employees for all these and other solutions, for their expertise and personal skills and for their commitment. They are the ones who also promote young talent and are involved in associations, clusters and committees. The basis for this is the institutional funding from the Land of Thüringen. On behalf of the IMMS team, we would like to express our sincere thanks for this. We would like to thank all our research partners for inspiring our research and development, which we translate into application-oriented solutions for industry.

We would also like to thank all those who encourage us and shape the future with us and thank them for their commitment and trust. In this report, you can find out what we have achieved in some of our joint projects. We would like to develop further ideas with you. 

We look forward to continuing to work and to exploring new paths together and we hope you enjoy reading this report.

Ralf Sommer, Scientific Managing Director

Martin Eberhardt, Financial Managing Director