IHP GMBH - LEIBNIZ INSTITUTE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE MICROELECTRONICS

Their core work

IHP is a German research institute specializing in silicon-based semiconductor technologies for high-frequency and high-speed communications. They develop BiCMOS and SiGe chip technologies, silicon photonics transceivers, and mmWave circuits used in 5G networks, satellite communications, and radar systems. Their work spans from foundry-level wafer fabrication through to integrated system-on-chip solutions, making them a critical bridge between materials research and functional microelectronic products. They also contribute to space-grade electronics, quantum computing hardware, and graphene-based device integration.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2015–2018, IHP focused on foundational photonic and RF technologies — BiCMOS integration, plasmonic modulators, wafer-scale photonic manufacturing (plaCMOS), and space Ethernet transceivers (SEPHY). From 2019 onward, their work shifted decisively toward mmWave systems, metamaterial-based reconfigurable antennas, graphene pilot lines, and applied 5G vertical deployments. The later period also introduced quantum computing (QLSI) and energy grid flexibility (ebalance-plus), signaling diversification beyond pure telecommunications.

IHP is moving from component-level silicon photonics toward system-level mmWave and reconfigurable RF solutions, with expanding interests in quantum hardware and 2D material pilot manufacturing.

How they like to work

IHP operates primarily as a strong participant (27 of 33 projects) but has proven coordination capability, leading 6 projects — notably an impressive cluster of four 5G-related projects. With 416 unique consortium partners across 26 countries, they function as a well-connected hub in European microelectronics research. Their participation in large flagship programs (Graphene Flagship) and ECSEL joint undertaking projects indicates comfort in large, multi-partner industrial consortia.

IHP has collaborated with 416 distinct partners across 26 countries, making them one of the more broadly networked microelectronics research institutes in Europe. Their partnerships span academic, industrial, and space-sector organizations across the EU.

What sets them apart

IHP occupies a rare position as a publicly funded research institute with its own semiconductor fabrication capabilities in SiGe BiCMOS — one of very few such facilities in Europe. This means they can take research from device-level physics all the way to wafer-scale prototyping under one roof. For consortium builders, this eliminates the gap between design and fabrication that often slows European chip projects, making IHP an unusually self-contained partner for any project requiring custom high-frequency silicon components.

Highlights from their portfolio

• 5G-VICTORI
  Largest coordinated project (EUR 893K) demonstrating 5G in real vertical industries — rail, energy, media — showing IHP's ability to lead large applied deployments.
• 2D-EPL
  Highest single funding (EUR 1.05M) for graphene pilot line work, positioning IHP at the manufacturing frontier of 2D materials.
• MORAL
  Coordinated development of an export-free radiation-hardened microcontroller for European space sovereignty — a strategic project beyond typical telecom work.