The last word…

… goes to Dr. Dirk Nüßler from Fraunhofer FHR.

© Fraunhofer FHR
Dr. Dirk Nüßler.
© MEV Verlag
Whether as e-book or printed – Dr. Nüßler is a passionate reader.

Dr. Nüßler, you head the Department of Integrated Circuits and Sensor Systems at Fraunhofer FHR. How did this specialization come about?

From 2005 on I started to become more interested in other applications of radar technology. The topic of material analysis has fascinated me from the beginning. With the integration of the Fraunhofer FHR into the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in 2009, the opportunity arose for me to further deepen the topic scientifically.

Which project are you currently working on and how can this be classified within the FMD framework?

Unfortunately, my work as a department head does not leave me much time for my own projects. But there are some topics that I try to push forward. These certainly include the heterointegration of SiGe and InP technologies. The development potential of high-frequency structures is one reason why we at Fraunhofer FHR have focused on the topic of additive manufacturing and are continuing to expand this within the framework of the FMD.

How has the cooperation in FMD changed your professional everyday life?

It broadened my view and showed me the potential of different technologies. When we develop solutions for our customers today, we always take a closer look at the technologies of the other FMD partners. I am firmly convinced that we can further expand and strengthen our competitiveness through the cooperation within FMD.

What other project in the FMD universe would you like to be involved in?

We are currently trying to set up the topic of millimeter wave / THz line scan cameras for industrial applications within the FMD. If this is successful, I would like to participate in this project in order to develop a solution suitable for industrial applications. Almost all member institutes have to contribute their special skills to this end. This project would probably be the biggest challenge of my professional career so far and my personal dream.

A look into the future: Which technology will continue to prevail?

I personally find the great technologies such as quantum computing or AI systems very fascinating, but I still find it difficult to assess their potential. But what I do see is that systems are becoming more and more intelligent and flexible. Front and back ends are moving closer together and in the future chips will be usable for a much wider range of applications.

Which personality – dead or alive – would you like to meet and why?

I would like to talk to the great inventors and theorists like Hertz, Maxwell, Tesla or Marconi. Some of them were far ahead of their time and have shaped our understanding of technology to this day. If you look at the resistance against which they partly created the basis for today's high-frequency technology – that is absolutely fascinating for me.

Is there that one book for you that should be read?

One? Thousands! EBook-Reader are the best invention of my time. I love books, especially when they're made of paper, but eBooks allow me to walk around with my entire library at all times. For a book fanatic like me, it's just the perfect device or software.

Personal:

Dr. Dirk Nüßler studied electrical engineering in Siegen and then began his research at the then Research Institute for High Frequency Physics (FHP). In the first years he was engaged in the development of array antennas at 94 GHz and measurement techniques for radar absorbing materials. His professional career finally led him to the development of methods for industrial measurement technology and civil security. Dr. Nüßler led several research projects and became team and group leader. With the integration of the Fraunhofer FHR into the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, he established the business field Production. In 2017 Dr. Nüßler became head of the newly founded Department for Integrated Circuits and Sensor Systems.

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