Cooperative Research Group “NextGenMicroEL“

Following the end of coal mining and the profound transformation of the automotive industry, Saarland is facing major economic challenges. At the same time, there is a growing demand for digital, intelligent, and resource-efficient solutions—for example, in the areas of mobility, industry, healthcare, robotics, and smart cities. Microelectronics and sensor technology are key technologies for digitalization and the implementation of the circular economy.

The cooperative research group “NextGenMicroEL” (Next-Generation Microelectronics) at the Saarland University of Applied Sciences (htw saar) and Fraunhofer IZFP is actively contributing to structural change in Saarland. The aim is to build new expertise in the field of energy-efficient, sustainable microelectronics and to develop future-proof applications for business and society.

Research focus: Edge computing

A central focus of the research group is on edge computing – i.e., the decentralized processing of sensor data directly at the point of origin. Compared to cloud-based solutions, edge computing enables:

• significantly lower energy consumption,
• higher data security,
• reduced data volumes, and
• more robust systems in the event of network interruptions.

To leverage these advantages, NextGenMicroEL is developing innovative hardware architectures and microelectronics solutions that are powerful, flexible, and energy-efficient.

Contents and competencies

NextGenMicroEL's research work includes, among other things:

• Design and development of energy-efficient microelectronics
• Hardware accelerators for AI, machine learning, and sensor fusion
• Analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuits
• Printed and flexible electronics
• Novel manufacturing technologies and miniaturization
• Testing, verification, and application in real-world scenarios

The close cooperation between Fraunhofer IZFP and htw saar combines scientific excellence with industrial relevance. The research group aims to develop practical prototypes at technology readiness levels TRL 4 to TRL 6 and to test them together with industry partners. At the same time, it will:

• promote scientific qualifications (doctorates, theses),
• develop new courses in the field of microelectronics,
• attract national and European research projects,
• train skilled workers and attract them to Saarland.

In the long term, the NextGenMicroEL research group aims to become self-sustaining and act as a driver of innovation for Saarland as a center of microelectronics and technology.