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BMBF supports “SPEED” project by Dr Weihan Li

February 11th, 2024 | by
Dr. Weihan Li mit seinem Forschungsprojekt "SPEED".

Dr. Weihan Li © Peter Winandy

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding Dr Weihan Li’s project “SPEED” – Rapid characterisation of the performance of lithium-ion batteries from the production line using machine learning” with 1.85 million euros over the next five years as part of its “BattFutur – Young Investigators Group Battery Research” competition.

At the Center for Ageing, Reliability and Lifetime Prediction of Electrochemical and Power Electronic Systems (CARL) at RWTH Aachen University, the junior research group ‘Artificial Intelligence for Batteries’ is pioneering the development of approaches to automate, digitalise, and accelerate the evaluation of battery performance from production lines using machine learning.

The ‘BattFutur’ funding initiative is part of the ‘Battery Research Factory’ concept, which is embedded in the ‘From Material to Innovation’ framework programme. This programme is a central pillar of the German government’s high-tech strategy. To attract excellent scientists in the field of battery technology to German science and industry, optimal starting conditions must be created. Therefore, promoting young scientists is essential.

Dr Weihan Li has led his junior research group since graduating with honours in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology from RWTH Aachen University in 2021. He completed his Master’s degree in Automotive Engineering and Transportation at RWTH in 2017, after earning his Bachelor’s degree in Automotive Engineering at Tongji University in 2014. Throughout his academic career, Dr Li has conducted research at esteemed institutions such as Imperial College London, the University of Oxford, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has received numerous awards, including the German Study Prize of the Körber Foundation, the Reichart Prize of the Akademie Gemeinnütziger Wissenschaften zu Erfurt, the vgbe Innovation Prize, the RWTH Innovation Prize, and the Battery Young Research Award.


Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives (ISEA)

Student of the year 2024: Contimi Kenfack Mouafo

February 5th, 2024 | by
Contimi Kenfack Mouafo steht gegenüber vom SuperC Gebäude.

Contimi Kenfack Mouafo is Student of the Year 2024. © Thorsten Karbach

The German University Association has awarded the title of ‘Student of the Year 2024’ to an outstanding young man who is studying Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at RWTH and is involved with the ‘3 E’s 4 Africa’ association. Congratulations to him!

Contimi Kenfack Mouafo is a passionate advocate for the potential of young people in Africa. He campaigns against climate change with innovative projects and aims to correct the negative image of his home continent.

“We must show that African countries are different from the negative stereotypical images that are constantly conveyed.”, says Contimi Kenfack Mouafo.

The association ‘3 E’s 4 Africa’ promotes projects that focus on sustainable fertiliser production from green hydrogen in Namibia and more efficient biogas plants for small farmers in Ghana. The organisation’s name stands for Education, Empowerment and Ecofriendliness.

At the age of 19, the student came to Germany to study and became active in Engineers Without Borders. Later, he founded the ‘3 E’s 4 Africa’ association, where he has been the Chairman of the Board ever since. The association aims to support African students who are working on local education and research projects related to energy transition, combating climate change, and climate change adaptation. German students also contribute to this objective.

The organisation promotes research projects that are environmentally friendly and tackle local challenges while developing African solutions. They network those involved and support independent action by African partners. Additionally, the organisation contributes to the integration of international students at German universities.

Mr Kenfack Mouafo will be honoured as ‘Student of the Year 2024’ at the ‘Gala of German Science’ in Berlin on 25 March for his inspiring commitment. The German Student Union (DSW) and the German University Association (DHV) will present him with the award, which is endowed with 5,000 euros. The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology congratulates Mr Kenfack Mouafo on his achievement and wishes him all the best for the future!


Information about the association “3 E’s 4 Africa e. V.” can be found here.

University project ‘NileTech’ wins award for innovation

February 2nd, 2024 | by
Lennart Reimann und Niko Zurstraßen mit ihrem Award

Lennart Reimann and Niko Zurstraßen © ICE

Every year, RWTH Aachen University honours university projects that make a special contribution to the attractiveness of the Aachen region as a location for innovation. The NileTech project was one of the winners of the Innovation Award.

Lennart Reimann and Niko Zurstraßen of the NileTech team at the Institute for Communication Technologies and Embedded Systems (ICE) predict that the ideal microprocessor of the future will be a RISC-V processor. RISC-V is an open and royalty-free processor standard that, according to Reimann, has the potential to disrupt conventional market structures. It allows small companies and research institutes to develop their own customised processors. In order to adopt the standard, a company can use NileTech’s solution, the RISC-V Instruction Set Explorer (RISE), to significantly shorten the time-consuming process of familiarising itself with the world of RISC-V.

“RISE is more than a tool, it is part of a revolution,”
says Reimann.

 

 

 

The RWTH Innovation GmbH supports the organisation of the award. The projects are judged on technology orientation, innovation potential, customer benefit, planned further development, commercial potential and overall impression. For the first time, the winning teams received a new trophy made in the Collective Incubator’s Maker Space.


Watch this video to learn more about the RWTH Innovation Award.

Click here to go to the Institute For Communication Technologies And Embedded Systems.

Max Lemme receives RWTH Fellow award

January 29th, 2024 | by
Prorektorin Sabine Brück (links) und Prorektor Matthias Wessling (rechts) zeichnen Professor Max Lemme als RWTH Fellow aus.

Vice Rector Sabine Brück (left) and Vice Rector Matthias Wessling (right) honour Professor Max Lemme as RWTH Fellow. Photo: Andreas Schmitter

Professor Max Lemme, head of the Department of Electronic Devices, and Professor Harald Müller, head of the Department of Medieval History, are new RWTH Fellows. With this title, the RWTH Aachen University honours professors who have distinguished themselves in research and have rendered outstanding services to the RWTH Aachen University.

Professor Max Lemme is a highly respected expert in the field of devices based on 2D materials and enjoys international recognition. One of his major achievements is a study on a graphene-based field-effect transistor, which has been cited 1353 times to date. He has successfully obtained research funding, including an ERC Starting Grant in 2012 and a Proof of Concept Grant from the European Research Council in 2018. He was also awarded a prestigious Heisenberg Professorship by the German Research Foundation in 2012. Max Lemme was instrumental in the establishment of the NeuroSys Cluster of Excellence and is its spokesperson. He is also an expert reviewer for the European Community and regularly participates in major conferences in the field of semiconductor devices, including IEDM, ESSDERC, DRC and ULIS.

The award he holds was introduced as part of the Excellence Initiative in 2013 and is based on nominations from the Deans of the Faculties.

 


Click here to go to the website of the Chair of Electronic Components.

Dr Jan Moritz Joseph admitted to the “Junges Kolleg”

December 19th, 2023 | by
Dr Jan Moritz Joseph im orangenen Pullover im Büro

© Nordrhein-Westfälische Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Künste | Bettina Engel-Albustin 2022 (NRW AWK| Engel-Albustin)

The dedicated researcher Dr Jan Moritz Joseph from the Institute for Communication Technologies and Embedded Systems at RWTH Aachen University has secured a coveted place in the prestigious “Junges Kolleg” of the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts. This admission is considered one of the highest academic honours that can be achieved in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). Congratulations!

In addition to Dr Jan Moritz Joseph, Junior Professor Lisa Spantig, Dr Maike Dohrn and Dr Julia Exarchos – all from RWTH Aachen University – were also accepted into the Young Academy of the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts. The Academy has accepted a total of 19 new scholarship holders into its Young Academy. The RWTH has the most new members. Admission to the “Junges Kolleg” is one of the most important honours for young academics in North Rhine-Westphalia. They receive an annual grant of 10,000 euros and take part in academy events.

Dr Jan Moritz Joseph from the Institute for Communication Technologies and Embedded Systems (ICE) at RWTH Aachen University is researching energy-efficient methods for the design and use of AI in embedded systems. The focus is on neuromorphic hardware. Traditionally, AI is executed on systems in which computing and memory units are separate, which limits performance. Neuromorphic systems combine both units in a new component and are therefore more energy-efficient. Dr Jan Moritz Joseph and his team are designing an integrated system in which hardware and software are developed together. He and his team received the RWTH’s Innovation Award 2022 for the best transfer project for their hardware and software development systems. He studied computer science and medical technology and received his doctorate in electrical engineering and information technology in 2019.

The academy has been supporting young talent in NRW with the “Junges Kolleg” since 2006 and now has around 170 active, associated and former scholarship holders. In addition to a doctorate, membership requires outstanding academic achievements at a university or research institution in North Rhine-Westphalia. Members must not be older than 36 at the time of admission. RWTH Aachen University currently has seven researchers in the “Junges Kolleg”.

We at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology would like to congratulate Dr Jan Moritz Joseph on joining the Academy.

Prof Leonhardt elected to the German Academy of Science and Engineering

December 12th, 2023 | by
Prof. Steffen Leonhardt, Aufnahme vom Jahr 2014

© Andreas Endermann

The German Academy of Science and Engineering, a prestigious private not-for-profit scientific academy, has recently welcomed 39 new members. Among them is Professor Leonhardt, Chair of Medical Informatics. This expansion of the Academy’s expertise strengthens its ability to provide valuable science-based advice to policymakers and society as a whole. Congratulations!

Established in 2002, the German Academy of Science and Engineering plays a crucial role in advising policymakers on science and technology policy. It operates under the umbrella term acatech, a combination of ‘academy’ and ‘technology’, and has a significant impact beyond national borders, representing the interests of German technological sciences at both national and international levels.

In June 2017, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier became the patron of the German Academy of Science and Engineering, highlighting the institution’s dedication to promoting scientific and technological excellence.

We, at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, are proud to congratulate Prof. Steffen Leonhardt on his election to the Academy.

Otto Junker Prize Award 2023

November 24th, 2023 | by
Three female laureates, holding certificates, in a row in front of three male officials. All the people are standing in the stairwell in front of the university auditorium.

In front, from left: Prizewinners Lina Fischer, Alba Clemente Sánchez and Kathrina Theisen. At the back, from left: Wolfgang Bleck, Udo von Berg and Ulrich Rüdiger.

Lina Fischer, a doctoral student at the Chair of Transmission Networks and Energy Economics at the IAEW, is one of three winners of the Otto Junker Prize for excellent academic performance.

The Otto Junker Prizes were recently awarded to three impressive graduates of RWTH Aachen University in a festive ceremony. Lina Fischer, Alba Clemente Sánchez and Kathrina Theisen were honored for their outstanding academic achievements.

The awards, named after the founder of the Otto Junker Foundation, Dr. Otto Junker, are presented annually to exceptional graduates of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology and the Materials Science and Engineering Group in the Faculty of Georesources and Materials Engineering. The foundation, established in 1970, is dedicated to promoting young scientists and supports numerous individual projects.

The award ceremony took place during a festive event at which Udo vom Berg, Chairman of the Otto Junker Foundation, and RWTH Rector Ulrich Rüdiger personally presented the awards. Professor emeritus Wolfgang Bleck, Chairman of the Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board, joined in the congratulations.

Lina Fischer, born in Bruchsal in 1998, enrolled for a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management with a specialization in Electrical Power Engineering at RWTH Aachen University after graduating from high school. She completed her Master’s degree with a thesis on “The impact of flexible consumers on market pricing in a renewable electricity supply system” at the Chair of Transmission Networks and Energy Economics under the supervision of Professor Albert Moser. Since the beginning of 2023, Fischer has been working on his doctorate at the RWTH Institute for Electrical Systems and Grids, Digitization and Energy Economics.

Alba Clemente Sánchez impressed the jury with her master’s thesis on the development of a digital twin for the optimization and online control of a continuous steel casting process. Kathrina Theisen was honored for her master’s thesis entitled: “Design investigations for glass tank simulation”.

The impressive achievements of these three graduates not only underline their individual excellence, but also honor RWTH Aachen University as an educational institution for brilliant personalities. We congratulate Lina Fischer, Alba Clemente Sánchez and Kathrina Theisen on this well-deserved recognition and wish them continued success on their promising career paths.

“Accure” and “Cylib” win the NRW Innovation Award 2023

September 29th, 2023 | by
Mann im wissenschaftlichen Labor.

Professor Dirk Uwe Sauer  © Heike Lachmann

Innovative technologies and sustainable solutions in focus: RWTH start-ups make their mark in the fight against climate change.

The NRW 2023 Innovation Award has put the spotlight on two outstanding RWTH spin-offs: “Accure” and “Cylib”. These two start-ups not only have their roots at RWTH Aachen University, but also share a common mission – to fight rising temperatures and the associated challenges of climate change.

“Accure” was founded in 2020 by Dr. Kai-Philipp Kairies, Dr. Georg Angenendt and Dr. Johannes Palmerist and emerged from the Chair of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Systems Technology headed by Professor Dirk Uwe Sauer. Dirk Uwe Sauer and co-founder Kai-Philipp Kairies accepted the NRW 2023 Innovation Award in the “innovation2business” category in Düsseldorf. This award recognizes individuals who have developed successful business models from outstanding ideas.
The start-up specializes in monitoring the performance, safety and lifetime of batteries based on big data and the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Such an innovative approach is crucial for the introduction of sustainable energy storage solutions. Dirk Uwe Sauer emphasizes the need to transfer scientific findings to the business world in order to have a positive impact on society. This is exactly what “Accure” has successfully achieved.

“This honor means a lot to us,” says Sauer, “because we are standing up for changing things with our research.”

The award in the “innovation2business” category comes with prize money of 50,000 euros, which will be earmarked for further research purposes.

Zwei Männer, links und rechts einer Frau, im Vordergrund eines Firmenplakates.

The founders of “Cylib”, Paul Sabarny, Lilian Schwich, Dr. Gideon Schwich from left  © Anna Wawra

The evening was even more exciting than for “Accure” for Lilian Schwich, one of the three founders of “Cylib”. While “Accure” had already been determined as the award winner before the event, Lilian Schwich had to compete against two other nominees in the “innovation4transformation” category on Monday evening.
The start-up, which she founded together with her husband Dr. Gideon Schwich and Paul Sabarny, has spent years developing a process at RWTH Aachen University to recycle all the components of a lithium-ion battery. The goal is to recover all components and thus close the gap in the circular economy. This approach is not only more effective, but also more environmentally friendly compared to the current state of the art.

“The award is also a recognition for the long hard time of research,” said Lilian Schwich, “with research we spent many hours, days, weeks, weekends.”

The audience award “innovation4transformation” is given to personalities whose innovative products, solutions or business models contribute in an outstanding way to solving transformation challenges. This category is endowed with 25,000 euros and recognizes the contribution of “Cylib” to the circular economy and environmental protection.

Both awards underscore the important role of RWTH spin-offs in developing innovative solutions to the pressing challenges of the 21st century, particularly in the fight against climate change. With their groundbreaking technologies and sustainable approaches, they are pioneers on the path to a more environmentally friendly and sustainable society.


For more insights, watch the interview and video with Professor Dirk Uwe Sauer and the interview with Lilian Schwich.

Biosensors for health: Team AixSense receives multiple awards at Sensus 2023

September 28th, 2023 | by
15-member team in uniform with the supervising professors in front of the event logo.

© Erdenebat Battseren

With the development of an innovative blood-based biosensor for the detection of traumatic brain injuries, the AixSense team stood out in an impressive field of competitors.

Once again this year, 15 student teams from all over the world took up the challenge of creating a biomarker prototype for detection and thus advancing sensor technology for improved healthcare.
RWTH Aachen’s AixSense team excelled in the competition, which was hosted by Eindhoven University. Their biosensor chip, which was manufactured with extreme precision in the cleanroom laboratory, caught the attention and recognition of the jury. This led to an award of the coveted Translation Potential prize. In addition, AixSense secured the Public Inspire Award by cleverly using social media platforms and collecting 1000 votes within 24 hours. The Aachen team’s outstanding engagement culminated in a first place in the vlog competition, which earned them the prestigious SensUs Gold Medal.

Assignment of one pathology to each year; starting from 2016 to 2023.

© SensUs

After the previous topics on antibiotic resistance, rheumatism, epilepsy, influenza A and sepsis, the teams from universities around the world explored a new pathology: Traumatic Brain Injury, defined as sudden external injury resulting in brain damage. Every year, around 27 to 69 million people worldwide are affected by this. The challenge here is the range of injury severity, which makes accurate detection all the more relevant.

„We are honored to have participated in such competition representing the university on an international level. We are also proud that all our team efforts were awarded with several prizes for RWTH Aachen University,”concludes the team leader of AixSense.

The Institute of Materials in Electrical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University deserves special credit for putting together this exceptional team, led by Dr Vivek Pachauri and Professor Sven Ingebrandt, with Dibyendu Khan and Aidin Nikookhesal supervising.


Check out the SensUs page for more up-to-date information on this year’s competition.

IntSpire – the Prize for Internationalization

September 15th, 2023 | by
Three people in triumphant pose, holding the awards on the stage.

Award ceremony IntSpire 2022 © Heike Lachmann

Creativity, diversity and internationality are the building blocks of excellent solutions to the global challenges of our time.

In order to make visible and honor people and institutions within RWTH Aachen University who make an exceptional contribution to the internationalization of the university, the “IntSpire” prize was established in 2020 by the International Office and the Prorector for International Affairs and has since been awarded annually in a festive setting and with prize money of 500 euros.

Internationalization permeates all levels of our university and changes them in a far-reaching and sustainable way. It opens up the boundaries of our own horizons and is crucial for education, teaching, research and the future of our society.
In order to promote and advance the diverse facets of living internationalization at RWTH, many individuals and institutions are committed beyond the normal scope.

Against this backdrop, the IntSpire team is calling for suggestions for honors from among RWTH members. These can be individuals such as employees and students, but also organizations, facilities and institutes that are particularly committed to the internationalization of RWTH. During the proposal phase from September 1 to October 15, a proposal form can be filled out and submitted by e-mail. A jury consisting of representatives of the university management, the professorate, the International Office, the Staff Council for Technology and Administration, the Staff Council for Scientific Employees and the students of RWTH Aachen University will select an award-winning person or institution from the proposals received and substantiated in writing.


For more information and the proposal form, please visit the official RWTH page.