The Institute

Innovation by creativity and cooperation

The sponsoring association Institut für Nanophotonik Göttingen was founded in 1987 in the form of a registered association. It has since then run the institute (IFNANO) as a non-profit making special-purpose enterprise, being institutionally supported by the State of Lower Saxony.

The statutory purpose “Promotion of Optical Technologies” is successfully fulfilled through applied basic research and knowledge transfer between research institutions and industry through research assignments, consultancy, scientific expertise, training and services and is documented by a large number of publications.

The departments

With their research projects and developments in various fields of physics, the IFNANO divisions have gained worldwide acceptance. This acceptance is expressed by a multitude of international co-operations and development orders by research institutions, small businesses and affiliated groups from most important industrial locations of the world. It also generates synergies, moreover, between the University, the institutes of the Max Planck Society and the industry of precision mechanics and optics in the region.

The research activities range from the development of non-contacting laser measurement engineering, the manufacturing of new products and product processing by using lasers, the development of new laser systems to applications in medical technology and the live sciences. Selected research and development results are marketed or distributed by various companies under licence. Further developments made within these companies flow back to IFNANO, thus pushing the research ahead in large steps. This also leads to the development of new fields of action for the researchers.

The IFNANO thus contributes to safeguarding the scientific and industrialposition of Lower Saxony. The scientific commission summarized the successful evaluation as follows:

“With IFNANO, the State of Lower Saxony has an institute of worldwide reputation.”

Administration

The administration team and the technical personnel in optical, electronic and mechanical workshops and the IT sector ensure an efficient infrastructure for innovative and profitable research activities.

The head of the department is Roland Becker, who is also the deputy general manager.

Economic development

As an institute for application-oriented fundamental research in the field of optic technologies, Institut für Nanophotonik Göttingen has been an important partner for universities and companies since 1987.

The Institut für Nanophotonik Göttingen receives an essential portion of its basic financing in the form of an institutional grant from the German State of Lower Saxony. In addition, as a globally recognised research institute for applied fundamental research in the field of optic technologies, IFNANO has for years generated a consistently high level of third-party funds through research on behalf of industrial customers as well as from projects for the German Federal Government and the German research organisation DFG.

Human resources development

At year-end 2023, Institut für Nanophotonik Göttingen had 51 employees, 41 of them scientists and technicians, which corresponds to 80.4 % of the total employees. Most of the scientific staff have a graduation as M.Sc. Physics. In addition, graduated photonics, chemists, computer scientists and business people work in interdisciplinary research groups.

Traning and Qualification

The IFNANO offers students the opportunity to combine their studies with practical scientific work in the IFNANO laboratories and workshops. At the end of 2023, 4 students and research assistants were supported at the IFNANO. In addition, two doctoral candidates concluded their followship at the IFNANO in 2023 in cooperation with the Georg August University Göttingen.

Excellence through cooperation

Our mission is to conduct application-oriented frontier research in the field of optical technologies and to transfer technology from science to industry
with a strong regional focus. We use light as a tool and are experts in nanoscale structuring, analyzing, and imaging with light. In this field, we are one of the world’s leading research facilities.

The Institute for Nanophotonics Göttingen conducts cutting-edge interdisciplinary research in collaboration with regional, national, and international partners from the worlds of industry and research,
and in doing so develops competitive products, solutions, and innovations – for the good of society and to strengthen the economy.

We primarily view ourselves as the first point of contact for small and medium-sized enterprises
for all matters in the field of applied nanophotonics. We work with our customers and partners in a trusting, fast, and highly effective manner.

The regional economy benefits from our activities thanks to the transfer of knowledge and exceptionally well-trained graduates. We initiate and facilitate
dialog and knowledge sharing on all topics related to optical technologies.

We offer an industry-oriented scientific education of the highest caliber. Our success is based on the knowledge and dedication of our employees. Their skills and enthusiasm, a spirit of open communication, and an excellent working environment create the foundation for developing creative solutions
to scientific and technological challenges.

1987 – Foundation of the Laser-Laboratorium Göttingen e.V. (LLG) under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony. Founding Board:

Prof. Dr. Fritz Peter Schäfer, Max Planck Institute for biophysical chemistry
Dr. Dirk Basting, precision mechanics and optics industry
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Troe, Georg August University

1987 – Development of organisational structure and scientific projects by the Institute’s director Priv. Doz. Dr. H. Gerhardt in the premises of Physical Chemistry Institute of the Georg August University in Göttingen

1989 – Extension by renting rooms in the Phywe Systeme GmbH & Co. KG

1990 – Move into the new building of the Laser Laboratorium Göttingen (Im Hassel 21, today Hans-Adolf-Krebs-Weg 1)

1992 – New director of the Institute Prof. Dr. G. Marowsky, foundation of a new project group: Non-linear Optics

1993 – Building up of the research activities and of the international relations, extension of co-operation with a large number of scientific institutions, collaborators and industrial partners

2002 – Foundation of LLG GmbH

2003 – Move into additional rooms in the extension building

2004 – Evaluation by the “Wissenschaftliche Kommission Niedersachsen” (Scientific Commission of Lower Saxony) and restructuring of the working groups in 4 clusters

2005 – Visit by Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Christian Wulff

2007 – LLG‘s 20th anniversary and visit by the German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel

2008 – New Head of the institute Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Viöl, Foundation of a new department: “Laser-Plasma-Hybridtechnologie”

2010 – New Head of the institute apl. Prof. Dr. Alexander Egner, Foundation of a new department: “Optical Nanoskopie”

2012 – LLG´s 25th anniversary and visit by the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony David McAllister “pdf”

2014 – The LLG congratulates its board member Prof. Dr. Stefan W. Hell on winning the Nobel Prize 2014 “pdf”

2018 – Verleihung des Titels „außerplanmäßiger Professor“ der Georg-August Universität Göttingen an Institutsdirektor Dr. Alexander Egner

2020 – Das Laser-Laboratorium Göttingen e.V. firmiert unter dem neuen Institutsnamen: Institut für Nanophotonik Göttingen e.V.

Management