ERFURT – This technology helps to make the production of computer chips more efficient, revolutionize 3D printing, and even combat kidney stones in medicine: Ultrashort pulse laser technology is the future, and in this field, the Free State of Thuringia is impressively reaffirming its reputation as Optical Valley and a land of precision engineering. A Thuringian consortium of companies and research institutes, operating under the name "UKPiño," which focuses on this specific laser technology, will receive funding from the federal RUBIN program and will begin its project phase on June 1st. Using ultrashort pulse (USP) laser technology, the Thuringian consortium will develop innovative solutions in the coming years in diverse fields such as semiconductor manufacturing, 3D printing, medical technology, battery technology, and automotive. The goal is nothing less than global technological leadership in this segment. Around €20 million will be invested in establishing the corresponding technology platform, of which approximately €13 million will be provided as a grant through RUBIN.
The Thuringian consortium UKPiño was selected as one of nine winning consortia from among 52 submitted proposals within the RUBIN program. The consortium leader is Active Fiber Systems GmbH from Jena. It comprises 14 companies, the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena, and seven associated partners, including the Thuringian Cluster Management of the LEG (Thuringian Development Corporation), which supported the consortium in initiating and submitting the application. The consortium's diverse expertise covers the entire value chain of ultrashort pulse (USP) laser technology – from the light source and optical systems to beam guidance, system integration, and solution applications.
The success story of UKPiño exemplifies how meaningfully applied basic research can lead to highly relevant economic strategies and solutions. The Free State of Thuringia has always possessed outstanding research potential in this technology field. For example, Professor Stefan Nolte, who is involved in the UKPiño consortium, won the German Future Prize for the industrial application of ultrashort pulse (USP) laser technology, which spurred further research activities. The UKPiño consortium emerged from the "UKPflex" research group, funded by the Thuringian Ministry of Economic Affairs, which pooled and strategically deployed funds from the state, federal government, and the EU – an example of the positive effects of targeted funding on sustainable technological development in Thuringia.
Background RUBY
RUBIN (Regional Entrepreneurial Alliances for Innovation) is a funding program of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research that aims to improve collaboration between companies and their cooperation with universities and research institutions. The goal is for regional entrepreneurial alliances to develop innovations with high application potential. In regions like Thuringia, the program seeks to facilitate regional value chains, innovative products and services, and access to new markets. In addition to UKPiño, two other Thuringian consortia were successful in the current RUBIN round: the ATHANA consortium (Antifungal therapeutic approaches through nanoparticle-based targeting of active ingredients, led by Smart DyeLivery GmbH from Jena), and the PhoTech consortium (Photonic processes as a technology basis for purifying indoor air, urban air, and industrial exhaust air), led by Lynatox GmbH from Ohrdruf. With three winning consortia, Thuringia is the most successful federal state in this RUBIN round.
Further information can be found at: www.ukpino.de
