Application development close to industry requirements is a focus of the economic and technological support program of the Baden-Württemberg region. Hence it supports the institutes of the Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft: the Institut für Mikroaufbautechnik (HSG-IMAT) in Stuttgart and the Institut für Mikro- und Informationstechnik (HSG-IMIT) in Villingen-Schwenningen. Together, both institutes employ about 100 people and earned a budget of 8.3 billion Euros in the past year. Both institutes generate a steadily growing part of their projects directly of the industry. They are even able to produce small and medium series of microtechnical components following industrial requirements on their own.
The HSG-IMIT has just established new seminal research fields - also with the financial support of the Baden-Württemberg region: self-sufficient systems, micro-medical technology and flexible microstructured systems. For these purposes 18 new employees have been hired.
The Institut für Mikrosystemtechnik (IMTEK) of the university in Freiburg is one of the accelerators of technology. With 18 professorships and 300 employees the IMTEK has become the biggest faculty in its subject in Europe. Almost all relevant aspects of the microsystems technology - ranging from micro electronics over sensors to biomedical micro technology are covered by the scientists at the IMTEK. Special about IMTEK: the institute is not only on top in its scientific work but also supports the implementation in concrete projects. IMTEK cooperates with companies like Aesculap, Applied Biosystems, DaimlerChrysler, Endress & Hauser, GeneScan, Nova Biomedical, Micronas, Medisense, Roche, Sick or STEAG microParts.
Among the pioneers of the world in microsystems technology there is the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (FZK). Today it focusses on the interface of microsystems technology and nanotechnology - a seminal field providing fundamental impulses for a wide variety of industry sectors. This field has a key role in the implementation of additional functionalities, new materials and effects. The FZK considers the microsystems technology and the nanotechnology as two complementary disciplines of miniaturisation in science and technology. Nanotechnology offers the access to totally new effects that have not been used since. Microsystems technology offers the construction of complete system solutions through distinctive systemic capabilities. The programs of nano- and microsystems technology of the FZK aim at the development of applicable solutions.