Vision: A world-wide web that saves more resources than it consumes

Data communications and data processing are the sources of innovation and digital progress that will continue to fundamentally transform our world over the next two decades. However, the consequent resource consumption of energy, CO2 and materials is enormous.

This consumption is basically due to the propagation properties of electromagnetic waves. At the same time, digitization with mobile and fiber-bound communication offers enormous savings potential in terms of sustainable development, for example by controlling mobility and production.

This development requires research into novel components based on new semiconductor materials, novel circuit concepts for analog and digital integrated circuits, novel construction techniques for antenna modules and novel concepts for their control and power supply. The increasing number of networked sensors will accelerate this development.

Scientifically, the focus here is on improving individual components and subsystems as well as the system as a whole. Minimizing energy consumption is being investigated at all levels, whether through better components such as amplifiers or through the use of novel system concepts. Measurement technology and design are valuable skills to model, design and realize novel circuits.

Another focus is on derived energy consumption, e.g. the global shift in energy consumption through internet use and the significant consumption of resources in the manufacture of high-tech products. The aim is to create a closed-loop recycling economy to minimize the current 50 million tons of electronic waste per year.