FBH - History & Development

Selected key data on the development of the FBH:

2024

• Patrick Scheele becomes Scientific Managing Director of the Institute on January 1, 2024.

2023

• after 28 years of leading the Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Günther Tränkle is leaving for a well-deserved retirement

2022

• Karin-Irene Eiermann becomes new Administrative Managing Director and forms the dual leadership of FBH gGmbH with Scientific Managing Director Günther Tränkle since September
• 370 employees

2021

• Transformation into a gGmbH, a 100% subsidiary of the State of Berlin
• Commissioning of the 2. cleanroom. Within the framework of the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany state-of-the-art equipment is now available
• FBH's ninth Joint Lab, the Joint Lab Photonic Quantum Technologies is launched

2020

• Since 2018, FBH has been expanding its technological base of the Application Laboratory III/V Components for Laser Technology and Electronics. A second cleanroom is being set up
• Eighth FBH Joint Lab started with the University of Duisburg-Essen - aiming at innovative materials and components for terahertz electronics

2019

• In January, the new research area Integrated Quantum Technology was launched - with further Joint Labs with HU Berlin
• The Innovation Campus Electronics and Microsensors Cottbus starts, with FBH involved in five subprojects
• 310 employees

2017

• In March BeamXpert, the FBH tenth spin-off was launched - at that time still under the project name DOBSY - and has meanwhile received several awards
• In April, the cross-institutional BMBF-funded "Research Fab Microelectronics Germany" was started - FBH receives more than 34 million Euros of the altogether 350 million Euros investment program

2016

• Spin-off UVphotonics is awarded with the Leibniz Founder's Prize, endowed with 50,000 Euros

2015

• Laser manufacturer TRUMPF opens branch office for the development of laser diodes in Berlin - in close proximity to its research partner FBH
• Formation of spin-off UVphotonics NT GmbH
• FBH again excellently evaluated and recommended for further joint funding by Federal and State authorities
• 290 employees

2014

• Formation of Prototype Engineering Lab for the development of prototypes at FBH

2013

• FBH successful with "Advanced UV for Life" in the Twenty20 competition of the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research; the consortium will be funded with up to 45 million Euros until 2019
• Formation of spin-offs:
  • BEAPLAS GmbH
  • Brilliance Fab Berlin GmbH & Co. KG
  • Phasor Instruments UG
• Cornerstone ceremony for an extension buildung (approx. 1,800 sqm additional laboratory and office spaces), moving in in 2015
• 270 employees

2012

• Transfer prize "WissensWerte" for particularly capable diode lasers for materials processing; the award is endowed with 50,000 Euros
• Installation and commissioning of various large equipment (including a new wafer stepper & a capable analytics tool for characterization of degradation processes)

2011

• Formation of spin-off GloMic GmbH
• Günther Tränkle becomes speaker of the novel Optics Cluster Berlin-Brandenburg
• 240 employees

2010

• Laytec & FBH receive the "wissen.schafft.arbeit" technology transfer prize endowed with 20,000 Euros
• Extension and renovation works in the cleanroom, especially in the area of mounting and assembly

2009

• Change of name to Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut fuer Hoechstfrequenztechnik
• In June, the institute was awarded for the first time with the TOTAL E-QUALITY certificate for successfull implementation of equal opportunity (again: 2012, 2015, 2018 & 2021)
• Extension and renovation of the technical infrastructure (investments in equipment & energy-efficient air-conditioning and cleanroom technology)
• 230 employees

2008

• FBH cooperation within Collaborative Research Center Sfb 787 (currently in its 3. funding period valid until 2020)

2007

• Evaluation by the German Science Council with excellent result

2006

• Formation of spin-off BeMiTec AG
• Awarded as familiy-friendly company Treptow-Köpenick in 2006 (again: 2009, 2010 and 2012)
• Selected as "Landmark in the Land of Ideas" competition, jointly with Jenoptik Diode Lab
• 180 employees

2005

• First Joint Lab with TU Berlin (2016: 5 Joint Labs with regional and national universities)
• Formation of school lab MicroLAB, jointly with Lise-Meitner-Schule

2004

• Transfer award "WissensWerte" for the development of DFB high-power laser diodes
• Renovation of the historical building, inauguration of a new building (approx. 1,200 sqm laboratory & office space, seminar rooms)
• First-time ISO certification of quality management, followed later on by environmental and occupational safety
• 150 employees

2002

• Formation of spin-offs:
  • Jenoptik Diode Lab GmbH, 2006: establishment of an own manufacturing facility in Berlin-Adlershof, 2012: expansion of production by around 1,400 sqm to 3,400 sqm (gross floor area)
  • eagleyard Photonics GmbH
• 133 employees

2000

• Formation of spin-off IXYS Berlin GmbH

1999

• Formation of spin-off Three-Five Epitaxial Services AG (TESAG) – belongs to Jenoptik corporation since 2009

1998

• Positive evaluation by the German Science Council

1996

• Management: Prof. Dr. Günther Tränkle becomes Director of the FBH
• 112 employees

1993

• Renovation and remodeling of the cleanrooms
  • 1993: 1. stage of construction epitaxy
  • 1994: 2. stage of construction replacement of  climate control and ventilation technology
  • 1995-97: 3. stage of construction modernization of the cleanrooms including renewal of equipment (since 1992)
• Management: as of April 1995 provisionally Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Heinrich

1992

• Founded as Ferdinand-Braun-Institut fuer Hoechstfrequenztechnik
• Member of "blaue Liste“, since 1997 "Wissenschaftsgemeinschaft Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz" (WGL), briefly "Leibniz Association"
• Management: until February Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ingo Wolf, provisionally Dr. Reinhard Gründler, as of October 1992: Prof.  Dr.-Ing. Peter Russer
• 88 employees