TU Dresden: "Research Laboratories Microelectronics Germany" (ForLab) publishes competence atlas

The platform makes high-tech infrastructures and specific expertise in the field of microelectronics research at German universities visible and accessible. With the launch of the online database, the project has reached a milestone in strengthening the specialist and junior staff base for the electronics of the future. Prof. Thomas Mikolajick, Professor of Nanoelectronics at TUD, is behind the project. ForLab is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMFTR). The rollout was launched at the symposium "Microelectronics Research in Germany: From Fundamentals to Application" (FTME), which took place in Bochum from March 4 to 6, 2026. 

Prof. Thomas Mikolajick, coordinator of the ForLab project, explains: "With the Competence Atlas, we are creating Germany-wide visibility of research infrastructures and capabilities in the field of microelectronics at universities for the first time. This will enable better cooperation between university, non-university, and private-sector research and development. The ForLab Competence Atlas is more than just a directory—it is a strategic tool for anyone who wants to advance microelectronics in Germany. It is therefore a core element of the ForLab strategy, which aims to leverage synergies, promote talent, and bring innovations into application more quickly."

• Expertise and highly specialized infrastructures – at a glance

Prof. Jens Müller, head of the subproject and vice president for international relations and transfer at TU Ilmenau, emphasizes: "The platform is aimed at research institutions and companies – especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are specifically looking for expertise, equipment infrastructure, technological solutions, and cooperation partners. It is therefore an important tool for transfer to industry."

However, the development is not complete with the launch of the website: members can update their respective information and add new features via a login area. Further content and features are also planned for the future. Prof. Mikolajick gives an outlook: "I am very pleased that we have succeeded in launching the Competence Atlas in time for FTME 2026. At the conference, it could be presented to an ideal audience of experts, thus receiving the attention it deserves for its launch. Now it is up to all users to contribute their experiences in using the tool and their feedback to us so that we can further develop and gradually improve it to the point where it optimally covers the various needs."

• About ForLab

The ForLab-NataliE project has set itself the task of establishing a network of German universities with a focus on microelectronics research. This initiative, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR), is thus creating a collaborative network that combines research and practical applications. By expanding inter-university partnerships and educational opportunities, ForLab-NataliE aims to strengthen the next generation of skilled workers in Germany and thus accelerate progress in semiconductor and microelectronics technology. With a focus on increasing the visibility of microelectronics research at universities, ForLab strives to facilitate the transition of innovative technologies into real-world applications and to promote the next generation of researchers beyond traditional academic boundaries.