In our digitalized, high-tech world of life and work, the availability of communications and data connections is a basic requirement. The increasing mobility of users, the flexible use of broadband multimedia content (e.g., entertainment, medicine, logistics), and future technologies such as the Internet of Things or autonomous driving are increasing both the volume of data in mobile networks and the demands on the communications networks themselves. One promising option for increasing data capacity and usable bandwidth is the additional use of terahertz technologies. This forms the basis for innovation not only in the area of radio systems, but also in the area of non-destructive testing (NDT). Terahertz waves can penetrate most electrically non-conductive materials, such as ceramics or plastics, in a similar way to ultrasound and X-rays, but they operate without a coupling medium and require neither complex mechanical guidance nor radiation protection measures because, unlike X-rays, they are harmless to the human organism.

Although terahertz radiation is predestined for a wide range of applications, for example in security technology, quality assurance or materials testing, industrial introduction has so far failed due to the lack of availability of inexpensive, fast and high-resolution systems with optimized, AI-based image recognition algorithms. This is where the "T-KOS" project, initiated by the FMD and funded with 10 million euros by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), comes in.

Using synergies to enable innovations

In the joint project "T-KOS", which started on May 1, 2021, a total of nine cooperation partners of FMD are working together with Fraunhofer ITWM to synergistically develop terahertz technology for wireless radio transmission, non-destructive testing technology, spectroscopy, and non-contact inline measurement technology. To this end, the technological competencies for communication and sensor technology distributed in the FMD are being brought together and expanded by know-how in the area of signal processing in order to be able to offer industrial customers innovative system solutions. During the one-year project period, various demonstrators will be developed that address the future fields of high-frequency electronics, terahertz photonics and wireless, high-bit-rate communication.

Dr. Dirk Nüßler, project leader and deputy director of Fraunhofer FHR, explains, "The overall project goals are to establish a German value chain to terahertz wireless links, e.g. for high-bit-rate communication in industrial production, inline monitoring of production processes with AI-based, real-time imaging processing for resource-efficient production, and first-of-its-kind industrial-grade terahertz communication and sensor technology by combining scalable electronic and photonic concepts."

To achieve these project goals, the project is organized along three parallel development strands that are interconnected at key points. "For the development strands terahertz photonics, terahertz line scan camera and terahertz communication, various demonstrators can be realized within the comparatively short project duration of 12 months, which go far beyond the current state of the art. " explains Prof. Björn Globisch, group leader at Fraunhofer HHI and professor for "Terahertz Sensor Technology" at the Technische Universität Berlin.

Dr. Andreas Grimm, technology park manager for compound semiconductors at FMD concludes: "The existing collaboration within FMD has been the basis for the project development, so we are delighted that the BMBF funding will give us the opportunity for the first time to leverage the synergies of terahertz technology and make an offer to industry for various applications."

In the joint project "T-KOS", the nine cooperation partners of FMD, Fraunhofer ENAS, HHI, FHR, IAF, IMS, IPMS and IZM as well as Leibniz FBH and IHP work together with Fraunhofer ITWM. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF) (grant numbers 16KIS1404K, 16KIS1405 and 16KIS1406).

About the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany (FMD)

Within the framework of FMD, eleven institutes of the Fraunhofer Group for Microelectronics and the two Leibniz Institutes FBH and IHP have been pooling their expertise for the first time since 2017 in order to achieve and expand a new quality in the research, development and (pilot) production of semiconductor-based micro- and nanosystems.

With more than 2,000 scientists, FMD is the largest and world-leading R&D association for applications and systems in micro- and nanoelectronics in Europe. As a global innovation driver, FMD offers a unique diversity of competencies and infrastructures and contributes in making Germany and Europe a leader in research and development. In doing so, it bridges the gap between basic research and cross-technological overall solutions through to customer-specific product developments.

FMD already offers innovative answers to future questions in the areas of transportation & mobility, health, energy, digital industry, digital life, and civil & occupational safety. In doing so, FMD combines state-of-the-art technologies from the fields of sensor systems, extended CMOS, microwave & terahertz, power electronics, MEMS actuators and optoelectronic systems into novel solutions and prepares them for application. Through its structure as a one-stop shop, FMD offers all this from a single source, serving as a central point of contact for its customers and partners.

In intensive collaboration with industry, research and education, the unique alliance of cooperation partners from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the Leibniz Association has its sights firmly set on the economic and technological future viability, especially of small and medium-sized enterprises, at all times.