This year, from May 24 to 27, 2025, the Technical University of Ilmenau hosted the annual Komet Conference for medical technology student associations. Students of medical technology and related fields from across the German-speaking world gathered to network and learn about research institutions and companies. As an affiliated institute of the Technical University of Ilmenau, we were delighted to give young engineers an insight into our range of activities at an attractive business location.
During the visit on May 26, 2025, the students and participating medical technology student associations were given a glimpse into the fascinating world of microsensor technology. In a short introduction, MEMS business unit manager Dr. Klaus Ettrich presented a selected range of sensor developments for medical applications. Highly miniaturized silicon sensors can measure the forces that arise between the catheter and the blood vessels during insertion. This sensor forms the heart of a haptic assistance system and is particularly important for surgery. Special optical sensors very precisely record various vital parameters in the ear.
Afterwards, all participants from various technical colleges and universities in German-speaking countries had the opportunity to visit the analytics center of the CiS Research Institute. The scanning electron microscope for precise surface analysis on a micro scale was particularly well received. They listened enthusiastically to Dr. Bernd Hähnlein’s explanations and gained a glimpse into a world that is invisible to the naked eye. The finest structures found in nature, from the structure of an insect wing and the different surfaces of plant pollen to the nanostructured coatings of silicon, amazed the students and prompted many questions, especially about practical applications.
At the end of the get-together, the students had many questions about their future careers, ranging from internship placements to specific career prospects in research and development or industry.
Under the umbrella of the Forschungs- und Industriezentrum Erfurt e.V. (Erfurt Research and Industry Center), the IMMS Institute for Microelectronic and Mechatronic Systems GmbH and X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries GmbH were involved alongside our CiS Research Institute. Above all, the diversity of career opportunities, from design to finished product, left a lasting impression and demonstrated the close links between science and industry.
