Joint media release by the Thuringian Ministry of Economics, Science, and Digital Society, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, and the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT)
December 5, 2024
Thuringian Minister of Science Wolfgang Tiefensee learns about funded research technology at Leibniz IPHT
Thuringia's Minister of Science Wolfgang Tiefensee visited the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz IPHT) today to learn about new technologies for the further development of biophotonic and microscopic processes. Last year, the state provided €10.5 million in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment and devices. The new research infrastructure will be used jointly by the University of Jena and Leibniz IPHT. The aim is to develop new areas of research in medicine, pharmacy, and life and environmental sciences.
"With these investments, we are strengthening research and development at the interface between medical and photonic technologies, which has developed into a real center of excellence for Thuringia in recent years," explained Science Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee at the handover ceremony. However, the funding not only benefits the regional scientific landscape, but also creates the basis for innovative new products and processes and thus for greater competitiveness in Thuringia's biotechnology and medical technology sector.
New equipment promotes cutting-edge interdisciplinary research
The newly acquired equipment includes a combined fluorescence and atomic force microscope (AFM), a 3D nanoprinter, and spectroscopic and microscopic instruments. This infrastructure supports collaboration between Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Leibniz IPHT and promotes interdisciplinary research approaches. "The ERDF funding provides important innovation policy impetus for health research and digitization, as set out in the 'Roadmap for Better Patient Care'. At the same time, it strengthens the university's LIGHT and LIFE profile lines and increases Jena's national and international visibility as an outstanding center of science," emphasized Dr. Thoralf Held, Chancellor of Friedrich Schiller University Jena. "This modern infrastructure also enables us to continue the successful collaboration between the university and non-university research institutions in Thuringia—in particular through the joint appointment of professors, which we have been implementing successfully for years."
Technology for the medicine of the future
One example of the newly acquired equipment is a microscope that combines fluorescence microscopy with atomic force microscopy. It provides detailed insights into biological processes—from the analysis of individual cells to the targeted manipulation of nanoparticles. These technologies enable researchers to better understand the fundamentals of infectious diseases and develop new possibilities for personalized treatment strategies.
"State-of-the-art technologies such as these open up new perspectives for biophotonics research and its application in medicine and the life sciences," says Prof. Dr. Jürgen Popp, chair holder at the Institute of Physical Chemistry at the University of Jena and scientific director of Leibniz IPHT. "They enable us, for example, to precisely capture the dynamics of biological processes and drive innovation in diagnostics and therapy. "We owe the successful implementation of this joint project to the dedicated cooperation between the University of Jena, Leibniz IPHT, and the Thuringian Ministry of Science."
Scientific findings and regional development
The ERDF funding is part of the Free State of Thuringia's innovation strategy and contributes to strengthening the regional research infrastructure and raising national and international visibility. At the same time, it promotes the training of talented young researchers and the expansion of socially relevant research.