Frankfurt (Oder). The joint research of IHP – Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics and the Department of Sciences of the Italian Roma Tre University has reached a new level. Last week, the Joint Lab on "Intelligent electro-optical sensing" was officially opened. Prof Paolo Visca and Prof Alessandra di Masi came to Frankfurt (Oder) for this occasion.
The international Joint Lab is based on a long-term partnership between the two institutions, focused on common research and educational activities in the field of semiconductor materials for optoelectronic applications. "We exploit synergies and work together on innovations," says Prof Giovanni Capellini. He is a professor at the University of Roma Tre and a member of the IHP materials research team, and as such will coordinate the future collaboration. He explains: "Leveraging on the multiple and complex interactions between nanomaterials and biological systems, the research focus of the Joint Lab is the development of intelligent electro-optical sensing platforms." The focus of the future collaboration is basic research on the development and engineering of group-IV semiconductor SiGeSn semiconductor materials and graphene towards the realization of silicon based electronic-photonic integrated circuits. Another focus will also be on developing innovative devices and systems that give silicon-based technology new functionalities. "We are thinking, for example, of biomolecule sensing, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and diagnostic procedures," adds Prof Capellini.
At the opening ceremony, Prof. Alessandra di Masi emphasized the overlap between the two institutions. "As the University of Roma Tre, we contribute to the Joint Lab with know-how, labs, and human resources in the realms of biochemistry and biotech, chemistry of surfaces, and condensed matter physics. We will synchronize our procedures with those tested at IHP. We offer our students a high-quality training that combines theoretical instruction with practical laboratory sessions to address the demands of the job market," she said. The University of Roma Tre has around 35,000 students. Four of the 13 departments have been recognized as Departments of Excellence by the Italian government, placing them in the top 10 percent of the country. The department of Science has received this honor for the second time in a row.
"With its thematic range, the Joint Lab offers a great opportunity and a lot of potential for a long-term, productive collaboration in which the partners complement each other. On the other hand, this matches the interdisciplinary approach of the Leibniz Association very well," says Prof Gerhard Kahmen, Scientific Director of IHP. "With our Joint Labs, we strengthen contacts that significantly help to attract qualified and motivated young scientists. They are a model for success in the field of cooperation", so Kahmen. IHP currently operates nine Joint Labs, three of them are international.
