Microtechnology
The miniature machines of microtechnology are conquering new fields every day. Their applications range from minimally-invasive surgery to communications technology and metals processing. The Berlin-Brandenburg region is a hub for microtechnology within Germany thanks to the presence of major research institutions in the field. They include the Technical University of Berlin, the Fraunhofer Institute for Assembly and Packaging Technologies for Microelectronics, Microsystems and Power Electronics (Fraunhofer Institut für Zuverläsigkeit und Mikrointegration - IZM) and the Ferdinand Braun Institute for Microwave Technology and Optoelectronics (Ferdinand-Braun-Institute für Höchstfrequenztechnik - FBH). Technology transfer initiatives, like the Center for Microsystems Technology (Zentrum für Mikrosystemtechnik - ZEMI) facilitate cooperation between the general economy and research institutions.
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology gives materials new properties; it makes them harder, softer or more energy efficient. The region offers potential in this area, primarily in the form of research institutions and the presence of innovative high-tech startups. To cite but one example, there is the Center for Nanophotonics at the Technical University of Berlin. The center develops new kinds of optoelectronic components based on nanostructures. Startup companies translate the research results into business projects. The Köpenick company Microresist Technology, as another example, is a leader in the field of nanoimprint lithography, a new imprint technique for chip manufacturing.
