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The state is supporting the Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technology and Image Evaluation with around two million euros to set up laboratory infrastructure for the production and research of special crystals for laser technology. Economics Minister Dr. On July 15, 2026, Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut handed over a symbolic funding check worth around two million euros to the External: Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technology and Image Exploitation (IOSB) (Opens in new window). The funding enables the development of laboratory infrastructure for the production and research of special crystals for laser technology. The funds are provided as part of the External: Strategic Technologies for Europe (STEP) (Opens in new window) platform from the External: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (Opens in new window). Baden-Wurttemberg stands for pronounced innovative strength. Especially in challenging times, a high level of commitment to research and development is crucial to securing future added value. We are therefore particularly pleased that this project is being funded as one of the first projects as part of the Baden-Wurttemberg High-Tech Agenda, said Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut on the occasion of the symbolic presentation of the funding check. Lasers are being used in more and more fields of application - from medical technology to environmental technology to the defense sector. With the project, we are strengthening Baden-Wurttemberg as an innovation location for photonics and laser technology and making an important contribution to Europes technological sovereignty in these key technologies, the minister continued. Research in the field of fluoride laser crystals The new laboratory creates the conditions for the production and research of fluoride laser crystals, thus enabling the development of new laser sources with improved properties. These are highly relevant for various fields of application such as medical technology, material processing, environmental technology, communication and also in the area of defense technologies. So far, essential components for setting up corresponding laser systems have mainly had to be imported. The funding supports the development of a European value chain and secures the technological sovereignty of Germany and Europe for important optical components. The new research infrastructure is intended to give innovative small and medium-sized companies in particular access to new, particularly efficient laser technologies and ensure the resilience of the value chains in this area. Strategic Technologies for Europe (STEP) The funding is implemented as part of the Strategic Technologies for Europe (STEP) platform, which was launched by the European Union in 2024. This aims to support the development and production of critical and emerging strategic technologies to strengthen the EUs competitiveness, security and sovereignty and reduce dependencies in strategic technology areas. These include digital technologies and technology-intensive innovations (deep tech), environmentally friendly and resource-efficient technologies as well as biotechnologies. ERDF funding in Baden-Wurttemberg In order to provide regional structural funding, Baden-Wurttemberg will receive around 279 million euros from the European Union from the ERDF in the 2021-2027 funding period. The Baden-Wurttemberg ERDF program is aligned with the states innovation strategy and supports the priorities of future technologies and skills as well as resource and climate protection.
