Feb 06, 2026
Smart microelectronics for medicine: Dresden-based innovation network SEMECO secures funding for a second phase
Nora Herzog explains the networked infusion system that enables safer and automated therapies.
The innovation network SEMECO (Secure Medical Microsystems and Communications) will receive up to EUR 15M in funding for another three years as part of the Clusters4Future initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). Building on the successes of the first funding phase, SEMECO is focusing on the concept of medical semiconductors as a key technology.
Medical semiconductors are specialized microsystems usable across multiple manufacturers that tailor sensor technology, data processing, communication, and security to the specific requirements of medical technology. Building on this, SEMECO is pursuing a platform-based, modular approach in which medical semiconductors, electronics, and software components are developed separately, securely combined, and gradually refined. AI-supported methods for certification and regulatory approval help to accelerate the transfer into practical applications. Concrete examples include securely networked, modular medical devices, portable ultrasound systems, medical sensors, and smart communication implants for individuals with hearing and speech impairments.
Close integration of medicine, technology, and industry
“In the first funding phase, SEMECO was able to demonstrate that the close integration of modern semiconductor and secure communication technologies enables new applications in medical technology. Securing another round of funding is a strong signal for us to continue consistently on this path. In the second implementation phase, we are refining our platform approach and systematically moving medical semiconductors toward application, standardization, and the market,” say cluster spokespersons Prof. Gerhard Fettweis and Prof. Jochen Hampe.
Together, the SEMECO partners are pursuing the ambitious goal of making long development and approval processes, complex individual solutions, and rigidly structured device systems more efficient through modular electronics platforms. This significantly facilitates further development, scaling, and regulatory evaluation.
“SEMECO directly links clinical challenges with cutting-edge technological research. Early interdisciplinary collaboration between medical and engineering experts and industry partners creates the perfect conditions to align innovations with real clinical needs and rapidly translate them into market-ready solutions,” says Prof. Esther Troost, Dean of the Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine at TU Dresden. “It is an outstanding example of the interaction between the Medical Faculty and the technical disciplines at TU Dresden.”
A strong signal for the Silicon Saxony region and Dresden as a research hub
“SEMECO integrates seamlessly into TU Dresden’s collaborative and Cluster of Excellence structures, all the while exemplifying our commitment to advance interdisciplinary, cutting-edge research in close collaboration with partners from academia and industry, thereby generating sustainable momentum for Dresden as science and innovation hub. The second funding phase provides the necessary basis to further develop both the processes initiated in the cluster’s first funding phase and those at TU Dresden to strengthen transdisciplinary research and transfer in the field of medical semiconductor technology,” says Prof. Angela Rösen-Wolff, Vice-Rector Research and Technology Transfer at TU Dresden.
The Silicon Saxony region around Dresden is one of Europe's leading microelectronics locations, combining excellent research, suppliers, and industrial production along the entire value chain. This environment enables SEMECO to develop integrated chip and platform solutions for medical technology and to consider regulatory requirements from the outset. The innovation network opens up new fields of application for the semiconductor industry and actively promotes the transfer of research results into industrial and medical use. SEMECO brings together renowned industry partners and technology-driven start-ups and acts as a connecting element in the region's microelectronics ecosystem. By actively shaping the strategic cooperation with Silicon Saxony, the largest high-tech network in the region, SEMECO is consolidating its role as a central player in the regional innovation landscape. The Free State of Saxony has been strategically supporting the expansion of the semiconductor industry in Dresden for years and sees SEMECO as an important building block for new, future-oriented applications.
About the Clusters4Future initiative
With the Clusters4Future initiative, the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) promotes excellent, primarily regional innovation ecosystems. SEMECO (Secure Medical Microsystems and Communications) is one of a total of 14 funded, next generation innovation networks. The second of up to three possible implementation phases will start in May 2026. SEMECO can receive a total of up to EUR 45M in funding over a period of up to nine years.
Contact:
SEMECO Office
Dr. Annett Berthold
Dr. Elisabeth Fischermeier
+49 351 458 11630
semeco.info
