The Institute for Communications Technology was founded in 1927 under the name Institute of Telecommunications and High-Frequency Engineering (IFH) and is hence the second oldest university institute of communication technology in Germany.
Currently, there are 38 research assistants (third-party funding 80%) and 10 technical and administrative staff members employed at the institute. The research is supported by students, who write their bachelor and master theses at the IfN (2024: 42 theses) and by scientific assistants (at least 15 "HiWis"). On average, there are about 71 people are employed at the IfN at the same time.
We are involved in various national and international research projects and maintain worldwide cooperations with companies and research institutions. Among others, we participate in EU, BMBF, BMWi & BMVI projects and are part of the German Research Foundation (DFG).
The research topics of the departments can be found on the respective department sites.
The IfN has almost completed its 100 years of existence and has seen, experienced and created a lot during this time. For a small insight into the history of the institute, we have compiled the most relevant milestones and events. If you would like to dive deeper into the history of the institute, you are welcome to visit our newly renovated cozy library and read or borrow the book on our 70th anniversary.
Year | Event |
---|---|
1927 - 1954 | Director of the Institute Prof. Dr. Leo Pungs |
Research topics: Television, Materials under high frequency, Antennas, Control Technology. | |
1952 | First female PhD Student Elisabeth Feldermann. |
1954 - 1968 | Director of the institute Prof. Dr. Friedrich Kirschstein |
Research topics: Television, Materials under high frequency, Antennas, Control Technology, Nuclear physics metrology, Parametric systems, Nonlinear electrical engineering. | |
1961 | Split-off of high-frequency engineering and founding of the Institute of High-Frequency Engineering, as of 1972 Institut of High-Frequency Engineering |
1968 -1992 | Director of the institute Prof. Dr. Helmut Schönfelder |
Research topics: before 1975: Television, Materials under high frequency, Antennas, Control Technology, Parametric systems, Nonlinear electrical engineering | |
New research topics from 1964 on: Communications theory, Speech recognition, Image processing, Aerospace, Magentotellurics (until 1984), Flight control and flight safety, Radar and mobile radio, Electromagnetic compatibility. | |
1970 | Beginning to use digital computers at the institute. Purchase of a PDP15/20 |
1971 | Change of name from IFH to Institute for Communications Technology (IfN) |
1993 -2020 | Director of the Institute Prof. Dr. Ulrich Reimers |
Research topics: Television, Image processing, Speech recognition, Mobil radio, Signal processing | |
since 04/2020 | Director of the Institute Prof. Dr. Eduard Jorswieck |
Latest research: Information Theory and Communication Systems Group, Working group Electronic Media: System Theory and Technology, Signal Processing and Machine Learning Group, Mobile Radio Systems Group