Newsletter_03-2024_EN

Karlsruhe Center for Optics and Photonics Sets Standard and Uses Synergies
– Interdisciplinarity Pushes Exchange and Innovation
Optics and Photonics:
High-tech Center for KIT
The Karlsruhe Center for Optics and Photonics (KCOP) is taking shape. At the new, highly modern technology center of
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), research teams will work on applications of light or photons. These include highly
efficient photovoltaics, 6G communication and glass fiber networks, novel quantum sensors, superconducting detectors,
extremely fast 3D image acquisition, and high-resolution microscopy for life sciences. The 56 million Euro building is
planned to be inaugurated in early 2026.
“Science needs inspiring places like KCOP, where expertise, excellence,
and top-level laboratory equipment meet with interdisciplinary
collaboration,” said Professor Oliver Kraft, KIT Vice President
Research, at the roofing ceremony for the new building last week
(December 1, 2023). “This will leverage synergies, ideas, and innovations
and eventually contribute to the technological and digital
sovereignty of Germany.”
Optics and photonics are among the key technologies of our modern
society. Glass fibers, photovoltaics, sensors, microscopes, microchips,
and nanomaterials – they all are based on the use of light.
“Our technologies are essential ingredients of the energy transition,
digitalization, and networking and they are indispensable for recording
data in industry and science,” Christian Koos summarizes. He
is Professor of the Institute of Photonics and Quantum Electronics
and of the Institute of Microstructure Technology of KIT as well as
Scientific Director of KCOP.
2 000 Square Meters of Clean Room and Laboratory Areas
Koos points out that excellent laboratories and laboratory equipment
are prerequisites of cutting-edge research in these areas. Dr.
Lothar Hahn, KCOP project manager, adds that the instruments are
highly specialized and rooms have to meet very high requirements:
“For our work, we need clean rooms. These are rooms with very few
particles. Let me give an example why this is so important: A human
hair is about 20 times thicker than one of our components. Any particle
present would destroy our components.” Creating such experimental
conditions, however, represents a considerable effort. So far,
small and partly outdated clean rooms have been available at various
institutes of KIT. KCOP will now set new standards and use synergies.
“As of 2026, research teams use an internationally outstanding
Cutting-edge research in optics and photonics needs special clean
rooms for sensitive components. (Photo: Sandra Göttisheim, KIT)
technology platform with about 2,000 square meters of clean rooms
and laboratory areas and a pool of instruments. Thanks to their joint
use, more efficient operation will be possible,” Koos emphasizes.
Apart from Karlsruhe, there are only few places in Europe where
degree programs are offered in optics and photonics. With KCOP,
KIT will become even more attractive for researchers, students, and
industry partners.
Interdisciplinary Dynamics, Sustainable Building
At KCOP, researchers of various disciplines will meet and discuss
under one roof: “KCOP will give rise to an entirely new level of interdisciplinary
dynamics,” Koos says. The technology center will mainly
be available to the institutes of KIT, but also external research teams
will be given the opportunity to work there. The planned fields of
work will include renewable energies, novel communication technologies,
quantum components, life sciences, digital fabrication on the
nanoscale, and customized materials.
The Helmholtz Association funds the new building with about
EUR 50 million, another 6 million come from KIT. Ongoing construction
work is on schedule and budget. According to Lothar Hahn,
the building was planned such that the silver standard can be reached.
The latter is defined in the “Assessment system for sustainable
building” of the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development,
and Building. For this, good insulation of the building, highly efficient
heat recovery, and use of recycled and environmentally compatible
construction materials must be ensured. The waste heat of another
large experimental facility in the vicinity is used for heating the new
building.
Being “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”,
KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment.
It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global
challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this,
about 9,800 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in
natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities
and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,300 students for responsible
tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based
study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between
important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of
society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis
of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
D 76131 Karlsruhe
www.reinraum.de | www.cleanroom-online.com NEWSLETTER | Edition EN 03-2024
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