"Siegen goes Nano" - Green light for high-tech research center

High-frequency sensors enable the contact-free detection of volatile organic compounds in air. Photo: Mehran Jamshidifar, University of Siegen.

The INCYTE research building at the University of Siegen on the Adolf-Reichwein-Straße-Campus is setting new standards with state-of-the-art laboratory equipment.

Many of the solutions to the big questions of our time lie in the details. Nanotechnology plays a decisive role in many areas of our modern life. Sensors with dimensions in the nanometer range are the "eyes" and "senses" of autonomous systems, such as future self-driving cars. Molecular chemical and biochemical complexes at the nanometer scale have enabled record developments of new vaccines in the coronavirus pandemic. Solutions that we want for digitalization, health and sustainability originate to a large extent from research in the nano-cosmos.

The University of Siegen is successful in many of these research fields, both with the Faculty IV: School of Science and Technology and the Faculty V: School of Life Sciences, which is currently being established. The go-ahead has now been given for the construction of state-of-the-art competitive laboratories at INCYTE, the "Interdisciplinary Research Center for Nanoanalytics, Nanochemistry and Cyber-Physical Sensor Technologies". This provides a clear impetus for strengthening these research areas from the state government in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). On September 14, the Board of Directors of Bau- und Liegenschaftsbetrieb (BLB) NRW gave the final "green light" to start construction of the INCYTE laboratory building in Siegen.

"This step reflects the strong appreciation of the achievements of fundamental and applied research at the University of Siegen and the long-term commitment of the state government to sustainably strengthen it in Siegen," explains Prof. Dr. Peter Haring Bolívar, who has been driving this initiative forward for years. "With this unique research building, which combines biochemical research, nanotechnological material and device development and nanoanalytical infrastructures, exemplary models are set for the collaborative development and effective use of elaborate research infrastructures at universities. This will implement another component of our two-location strategy, the expansion of the Adolf-Reichwein-Strasse-Campus," explains Head of Administration Ulf Richter.

In a few months, the groundbreaking ceremony for the new INCYTE research building (graphic on the left: KRESINGS Architektur GmbH) will follow. The state-of-the-art research building is being constructed at the northern end of the Adolf Reichwein-Campus on an area of nearly 11,000 square meters; the building will have a usable floor space of 5,200 square meters and will offer dynamically usable laboratories for all members of the university and external partners. The laboratories include S2-level biochemical research areas, clean rooms for nanometer-scale integrated device fabrication, and state-of-the-art electron microscopy systems. With these state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, the building sets new standards for uniquely close interdisciplinary collaboration between advanced materials science, chemical, biochemical and analytical research, and nanotechnologies.

"These cutting-edge laboratories will strengthen the future research of the Faculty IV: School of Science and Technology as well as open up new impulses for the University's Faculty V: School of Life Sciences. I would like to thank the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which with this investment also honors the achievements of our colleagues in fundamental research in recent years and opens up a great perspective for them. I would also like to thank all colleagues who tirelessly worked on this project for our university and the region," explains the university's Rector, Prof. Dr. Holger Burckhart.

"Sensory and nanotechnology research and developments only succeed when different disciplines work hand in hand: basic physical and chemical fundamental research, microelectronic sensor development, and information technology data processing. In the INCYTE building, they are united under one roof, combined with an infrastructure at the highest technical level," says the Dean of the Faculty IV: School of Science and Technology, Prof. Dr. Holger Schönherr. "The building and the opportunities it offers will significantly advance our research and help increase the university's international reputation and attractiveness in this field. This is crucial for attracting international talent." Among other things, a "clean room" for semiconductor technology is planned, where work will be carried out in a virtually particle-free environment on the production of sensor and camera technologies and AI microchips as key components of artificial autonomous-intelligent systems and sensor technologies.

In the future, the INCYTE building will be home to the Siegen Equipment Center for Micro- and Nanoanalytics (MNaF) in a central location, which has already been honored as a "Core Facility" by the German Research Foundation. "Modern and powerful large-scale equipment is essential for international competitiveness in materials research," explains Prof. Dr. Benjamin Butz, Head of the Central MNaF Equipment Center. "That is why we are not only planning to combine the center's existing large-scale equipment for INCYTE. On top of that, together with all the colleagues involved, we are developing optimal laboratories for new, state-of-the-art nanoanalytical devices, such as an atomic ultrahigh-resolution transmission electron microscope." 

The shielded and vibration-free laboratories are subject to the highest structural requirements. "The very close cooperation at the planning level between all the scientists, the staff in the university's planning department, BLB NRW and the planning companies is absolutely outstanding and extremely efficient," explains Dr. Andreas Bablich, who coordinated the design at the scientist level.

The new laboratory building is exemplary in many respects. Energy efficiency has been thought through to the concrete research process level, and with a total area of 750 square meters, the building will integrate a solar system with an output of 45 kWp to minimize external energy requirements. The INCYTE building is being constructed by Bau- und Liegenschaftsbetrieb (BLB) NRW, and completion is planned in around three years (2024).

Photo: Researcher Christoph Süßmeier examining metamaterials under an electron microscope at the MNAF of the University of Siegen. (Photo: Sascha Hüttenhain, University of Siegen)