Jena, March 11, 2026. The Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Optik und Feinmechanik (IOF) in Jena has received a new extension building. State-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities, costing around 30 million euros, have now been officially inaugurated.
- Event: Inauguration of the 3rd extension building for high-tech research
- Location: Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Optik und Feinmechanik (IOF), Jena
- Investment Volume: 30 million euros (funded equally by the federal and state governments)
- Equipment: New laboratories, clean rooms, electron beam lithography system, ground station for satellite-based quantum communication
- Guests of Honor: Federal Minister of Science Dorothee Bär (CSU) and Thuringia’s Prime Minister Mario Voigt (CDU)
Key Technologies for the Future
With the now third extension building, the Fraunhofer IOF is massively strengthening its capacities in optical research. The newly created infrastructure is intended, among other things, to advance the production of photonic components. Optics and photonics form fundamental bases for modern key technologies, including quantum technology, biotechnology, and microelectronics.
Federal Minister of Science Dorothee Bär praised the innovative strength of the location during her inaugural visit to Thuringia. The institute is a “prime example of the federal government’s high-tech agenda” and shows that targeted research investments have an impact. Prime Minister Mario Voigt also emphasized the importance of German and European answers to the major technological questions of our time.
Second Stop: Energy Research in Hermsdorf
As part of her trip to Thuringia, the Federal Minister also visited the Fraunhofer-Institut für Keramische Technologien und Systeme (IKTS) in Hermsdorf in the Saale-Holzland-Kreis. There, the focus is on solutions for the storage and intelligent use of energy. Research into ceramic components, which are used, for example, for hydrogen production, large power batteries, or water purification, is intended to contribute significantly to Germany’s technological sovereignty and resilience.
Background: Jena as a Center of Photonics
The “City of Light” Jena looks back on a long tradition in optics and precision mechanics, which is inseparably linked with the names Carl Zeiss, Ernst Abbe, and Otto Schott. Today, this scientific excellence is concentrated primarily on the Beutenberg Campus, where the Fraunhofer IOF is located. With the newly inaugurated ground station for quantum communication, Jena is further expanding its role as an international pioneer in the development of tap-proof, satellite-based networks. Such technologies are considered crucial worldwide for effectively protecting sensitive data from hacker attacks and quantum computers in the future.
Source:
Bär and Voigt inaugurate new building for high-tech research
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