Federal President Steinmeier in Cottbus – FBH presented its Raman sensor system at BTU
As part of his informational and meet-and-greet tour, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, together with the Diplomatic Corps and Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke, visited the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) at the Cottbus campus on June 13, 2024. In the context of the structural transformation project "iCampµs" in Lusatia, the Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH) presented a novel portable Raman sensor system.
Since the decision to phase out coal in 2038 was made, regions like Lusatia have been preparing intensively for the post-lignite era. Research and development activities in the fields of microsensor technology and digitalization open up perspectives for this structural transformation. With the Innovation Campus Electronics and Microsensors iCampµs Cottbus), funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the region aims to establish itself as an innovation hub.
As part of this initiative, FBH has been building the µ-Spektrum application lab since 2019, where the Berlin-based Leibniz Institute develops compact and portable Raman sensor systems, among other things. The practical suitability of this promising technology is currently being tested by Thiem-Research GmbH, a research subsidiary of the Carl Thiem Clinic (CTK) in Cottbus, in a clinical study at CTK. The novel Raman sensor system measures directly and non-invasively on the skin, requires only short measurement times, and is suitable for analyzing selected target substances. Using Raman spectroscopy, various substances can be detected based on a spectral signature that is as unique as a fingerprint. For example, the carotenoid content in the skin can be determined, providing insights into people's health and indicating diseases or the effectiveness of therapies.
The President's tour was accompanied by foreign ambassadors working in Germany, representatives of international organizations, and Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke. The Diplomatic Corps, consisting of about 130 participants, began their tour at BTU in Cottbus. Here, the focus was on structural transformation in Lusatia and climate-neutral manufacturing technologies for decentralized energy technology. In multilingual guided walks, scientists presented key structural transformation projects, including iCampµs Cottbus.
Martin Maiwald from the Ferdinand-Braun-Institut demonstrated one of its novel portable Raman sensor systems in a live experiment. The centerpiece is a monolithic dual-wavelength diode laser developed at FBH, which enables Raman investigations even in fluorescent environments and under daylight. "This system is a good example of our institute's capabilities," emphasized Maiwald. "From the component to the ready-to-use device, we cover the entire value chain. This ensures the rapid transfer of our research results into applications."
