The "Ilmenau School of Green Electronics" will be officially launched at the Ilmenau University of Technology with a kick-off event on December 16 and 17. For four years, young scientists will develop interdisciplinary information technology of the future that is largely climate-neutral. In view of global digitalization, "green", i.e. energyand resource-efficient electronics is the order of the day. Since July 1, the Carl Zeiss Foundation has been funding the Ilmenau School of Green Electronics with almost 5.2 million euros for four years in its thematic focus on resource efficiency, with which it supports interdisciplinary research into the more efficient use of limited natural resources.
The digital revolution is changing our entire society in an unprecedented way through new technologies and the ever-increasing use of artificial intelligence. However, this is leading to a rapid increase in energy requirements and, as a result, emissions of climate-damaging carbon dioxide. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, around twelve percent of the electrical energy produced worldwide is already consumed for hardware alone, which is used in IT applications around the globe - and the trend is rising sharply: scientific projections predict that in around ten years’ time, the entire global production of electrical energy will no longer be sufficient to cover the power requirements of IT hardware - with devastating consequences for the climate.
The Ilmenau School of Green Electronics is developing energy-efficient information technology that is largely climate-neutral along the entire value chain - in its manufacture, repair and recycling - and therefore does not harm the climate at any time - an ambitious challenge that the new research initiative is tackling with interdisciplinary projects ranging from research into physical principles to innovative new applications.
At the beginning of the year, scientists at the forefront of research at TU Ilmenau were invited to submit innovative project ideas for the Ilmenau School of Green Electronics, which should cover at least two of three specified topics: energy-efficient computing, bio-inspired microelectronics and intelligent materials, components and technologies. Twelve interdisciplinary green electronics projects were selected, in each of which two researchers and one doctoral candidate will now develop high-performance but energy-efficient systems over the next four years.
Among the selected projects: The development of so-called neuromorphic computers, i.e. computers that work according to a biological model: the human brain. In order to save energy, the human brain is designed to reduce the information coming in from the sensory organs via the nerve pathways to the absolute essentials. Neuromorphic computer chips, which are modeled on the human nerve network, also use this "trick" to achieve maximum performance with as little energy as possible.
The Ilmenau School of Green Electronics at TU Ilmenau is training a new generation of interdisciplinary scientists at the interface of traditional disciplines at the highest level. The Carl Zeiss Foundation is funding 12 doctoral positions for four years, including all material and consumables, conference trips and stays abroad, with almost 5.2 million euros. The funding is provided in the area of resource efficiency, with which the foundation supports interdisciplinary research into the more efficient use of limited natural resources. The Ilmenau School of Green Electronics not only conducts cutting-edge research into the sustainable information technology of the future, but as a talent factory it also offers young researchers an excellent start to an outstanding career in science or industry.
About the Carl Zeiss Foundation The Carl Zeiss Foundation has set itself the goal of creating scope for scientific breakthroughs. As a partner of excellent science, it supports basic research as well as application-oriented research and teaching in the STEM disciplines (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology). Founded in 1889 by the physicist and mathematician Ernst Abbe, the Carl Zeiss Foundation is one of the oldest and largest private science-promoting foundations in Germany. It is the sole owner of Carl Zeiss AG and SCHOTT AG. Its projects are financed from the dividends distributed by the two foundation companies.
’Ilmenau School of Green Electronics’: TU Ilmenau develops sustainable IT of the future
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