➀ Qkera, a startup from Technische Universität München, has developed new electrolyte components for solid-state batteries with high energy density and stability. The technology aims to break through battery technology for electromobility and other fields. ➁ The electrolytes consist of a lithium-ion-conducting ceramic-oxide material, offering safety and sustainability benefits. ➂ Qkera received support from TUM Venture Lab ChemSPACE and aims to send prototypes to battery manufacturers by the end of this year.
Recent #innovation news in the semiconductor industry
➀ Qkera, a startup from the Technical University of Munich, has developed new electrolyte components for solid-state batteries. The technology aims to offer high energy density, stability, and low production costs. ➁ The company's electrolytes are made of a lithium-ion conducting oxide ceramic, which offers advantages in safety and sustainability. ➂ Qkera has received support from the TUM Venture Lab and has been selected as one of the 25 best science startups worldwide by the Falling Walls Science Summit.
➀ Raspberry Pi introduces a new $12 USB 3.0 hub; ➁ The hub converts one USB 3.0 port to four; ➂ Technical specifications and performance tests of the hub
➀ The Daimler and Benz Foundation will once again award the Bertha-Benz Prize, recognizing a young engineer for an outstanding dissertation. The prize, worth 15,000 euros, is open to female engineers who have contributed to social value with their dissertation results.➁ The nomination deadline is Saturday, March 1, 2025.➂ The foundation aims to support women in engineering disciplines and their career development.
➀ Alex Bronstein, known for groundbreaking innovations, starts his professorship at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) with a focus on Machine Learning in biowissenschaften. ➁ Bronstein has a background in both academic research at the Technion, Israel, and industry at Intel, where he developed 3D sensing technology. ➂ He aims to expand the boundaries of machine learning for applications in biowissenschaften and contribute to strategic directions in structural and cell biology, as well as single-cell analyses.
1. British American Tobacco showcased promising new innovations in all three NGP categories; 2. The two-piece Glo Hilo device may improve consumer experience and compete with IQOS; 3. The nicotine industry is growing, and BTI should be able to increase profits despite a low valuation.
➀ Tian Cheng Advanced Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd. achieves breakthroughs in technology development and production;
➁ The company focuses on semiconductor technology innovation and contributes to the development of the integrated circuit industry in Zhuhai and the Greater Bay Area;
➂ The 'Nine Layers' technology platform is unveiled, symbolizing advanced technology and corporate culture, aiming to optimize the wafer ecosystem.
➀ The German federal project 'skills4chips' aims to secure skilled professionals for the semiconductor industry by establishing a national educational academy. ➁ The 'Microtec Academy' is set to respond to the growing demand for skilled workers and will be coordinated by the Berlin Ferdinand-Braun-Institut. ➂ The project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, will focus on upskilling and reskilling in microelectronics and microsystem technology, with a budget of 12 million euros over four years.
➀ These batteries represent a technological breakthrough with their slim profiles, often just a millimetre thick; ➁ Their flexibility is achieved through the thinness of the cells and the pliability of the substrate; ➂ Innovations in electrode and electrolyte materials enhance their performance and flexibility.
➀ Prof. Martin Braun will take over the leadership of Fraunhofer IEE in Kassel on November 1, 2024. He is also a professor at the University of Kassel. ➁ Fraunhofer IEE focuses on research and development of sustainable electrical energy systems and energy system technology. ➂ Since 1988, the institute has been developing solutions to advance the energy transition and digitalization in the energy sector.
➀ The FORSocialRobots research project, led by Prof. Dr. Jörg Franke, aims to enhance the social skills of robots for efficient human-robot interaction in various applications. ➁ The project focuses on scenarios such as logistics, production, service, elderly care, and dementia centers. ➂ Challenges include natural communication, understanding human emotions, and adapting to diverse environments.
➀ The Saarbrücken conference focuses on smart materials and their applications in various industries. ➁ It highlights the collaboration between universities and industry to develop new products. ➂ It showcases innovative research in materials science and technology transfer.
➀ President Steinmeier advocates for the strength of democracy in climate and environmental protection at the DBU Environment Prize ceremony. ➁ DBU awards the prize to researchers and innovators who contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development. ➂ The prize winners are recognized for their work in moor research, e-mobility, and climate change mitigation.
➀ The DBU awards Dr. Franziska Tanneberger and Thomas Speidel for their contributions to environmental protection; ➁ The prize emphasizes the importance of biodiversity and climate change; ➂ Dr. Tanneberger's work on moor conservation and Dr. Speidel's innovation in energy transition are highlighted.
➀ The Higgs Centre for Innovation in Edinburgh has relaunched its Space Testing Facility following an upgrade. The funding of £400,000 from STFC has enabled the expansion and enhancement of testing capabilities. ➁ The aim is to make the facility more accessible to space companies and technology SMEs. ➂ The centre is strategically important for the Scottish space industry, as it supports innovation and economic growth.
➀ Prof. Dr. Bettina Just discusses the opportunities and challenges of quantum computing for small and medium-sized enterprises; ➁ The discussion focuses on why quantum computing is so fast and what it means for the Mittelstand; ➂ The need for close collaboration between science and industry is emphasized to successfully transfer quantum computing applications to the market.
➀ Guangdong Province has issued an action plan to develop the optochip industry, aiming to break through more than 10 key technologies by 2030, creating over 10 'punch' products, nurturing over 10 world-class leading enterprises, and establishing around 10 national and provincial innovation platforms, thus forming a new千亿-level industrial cluster and becoming a globally influential optochip industry innovation hub.
➁ The plan focuses on key tasks such as the development of optochip key materials and equipment, including silicon photonic materials, compound semiconductor materials, and photoresists.
➂ The demand for optochips is strong, and domestic manufacturers are expected to enter the mainstream supply chain, with companies like Lumentum showing robust demand and the industry facing a shortage of InP laser diodes.
➀ A German-Chinese research team led by Prof. Dr. Francesco Ciucci from the University of Bayreuth has developed a new electrochemical water splitting method. ➁ This method not only accelerates hydrogen production for technology and industry but also makes it more sustainable. ➂ The research, published in Nature Nanotechnology, shows a significant improvement in oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity and efficiency.
➀ Samsung Electronics faces a crisis due to its organizational culture and lack of bold innovation;
➁ The company's focus on financial and legal aspects over technology has hindered its progress;
➂ Samsung's decision to withdraw from HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) was criticized for not being financially beneficial;
➃ The article highlights the challenges Samsung faces in packaging technology and its falling behind competitors like TSMC;
➅ The internal reporting process is lengthy and prone to distortion, affecting decision-making;
➆ Employees are leaving for better opportunities, especially in China;
➇ The article suggests that Samsung needs to revamp its management and focus on fostering a culture of innovation and open discussion.
➀ A university student creates a simple raycaster maze demo with transparency support in Microsoft Excel; ➁ The demo is made using 400 lines of VBA and runs at 0.2 FPS; ➂ The project is for a 'Programming in VBA' university course and showcases the creativity of Excel's capabilities.