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About AMO

Our Story

AMO GmbH was founded in 1993 with the support of the government of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). The bid was to create an incubator for innovation in the Rhine region by providing a centralized infrastructure for nanotechnology capable of bridging the gap between academic and industrial research. AMO has always remained true to this mission, becoming a sought-after partner for innovators in academia, industry, SMEs and start-ups. Some highlights of AMO’s story are presented below.

AMO in the course of time

The most important milestones of AMO’s history in a timeline, starting with the foundation of AMO GmbH in 1993 until today.

  • 2024

     

    Digital Hardware Hub Aachen: A Flagship Project for Micro- and Nanotechnology in the Rhenish Mining Area

    The Digital Hardware Hub Aachen kicks off in 2024 as a pioneering project to boost micro- and nanotechnology in the Rhenish region. By providing state-of-the-art infrastructure and expert support, the hub will play a key role in creating jobs and driving innovation in the region. In addition to this pioneering project we also celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Johannes Rau Forschungsgemeinschaft (JRF), further strengthening the successful cooperation and development of the region.

  • 2023

     

    30 years of AMO and 10 years of Graphene Flagship: milestones of innovation and collaboration

    In 2023, we at AMO celebrated two important anniversaries: 30 years of cutting-edge research in nanotechnology and 10 years of successful collaboration in the Graphene Flagship. Together we have achieved a lot. The 10-year Graphene project has a major impact on European research with a budget of €1 billion and more than 170 partners.

  • 2022

     

    AMO congratulates Anna Lena Giesecke on her appointment to a full professorship at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

    Anna Lena Giesecke is appointed Professor for Semiconductor Technology at the University of Duisburg-Essen and group leader at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems (Fraunhofer IMS). Giesecke has led the Nanophotonics group at AMO since 2014.

  • 2021

     

    NeuroSys successful in BMBF competition

    The cluster “NeuroSys – Neuromorphic Hardware for Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Systems” will receive 45 million euros in funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to contribute to Germany’s and Europe’s technological independence in the field of artificial intelligence. Initiator and coordinator of the cluster is Prof. Max Lemme.

  • 2020

     

    AMO congratulates Daniel Neumaier on his appointment to a full professorship at the University of Wuppertal.

    Daniel Neumaier is appointed to a full professorship at the University of Wuppertal. Neumaier joined AMO in 2009 as head of the graphene research-division, focusing on the exploitation of graphene and other two-dimensional materials for applications in microelectronics and photonics.

  • 2019

     

    Spin-off of Black Semiconductor

    The know-how developed in years of research on graphene-based optoelectronic devices leads to the establishment of a new start-up: Black Semiconductor.

  • 2017

     

    Max Lemme becomes CEO of AMO GmbH

    Prof. Dr.-Ing. Max Christian Lemme becomes the new managing director of AMO on 1st February. He succeeds his doctoral advisor Prof. Dr. Heinrich Kurz.

  • 2016

     

    Sudden death of Prof. Heirich Kurz

    Prof. Dr Heinrich Kurz, founder and managing director of AMO GmbH, dies unexpectedly in Aachen on 12 March at the age of 72.

  • 2014

     

    Establishment of the Johannes Rau Research Foundation (JRF)

    AMO is a founding member of the Johannes Rau Research Foundation (JRF), the research association of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The JRF is the umbrella organisation of 16 state-funded, legally independent, non-profit, non-university research institutions. The joint tasks of the JRF include research cooperation, the promotion of young scientists, public relations and the regular evaluation of the member institutes.

  • 2014

     

    Establishment of Protemics GmbH, AMO’s second spin-off

    Founded in 2014, Protemics is a spin-off of AMO and of the RWTH Aachen University. Protemics develops ultra-fast photoconductive Terahertz microprobe devices for non-destructive testing applications.

  • 2013

     

    Launch of the Graphene Flagship initiative

    In 2013, the European Commission launches the Graphene Flagship, a €1 billion initiative bringing together nearly 170 academic and industrial partners from 22 countries. The aim is to take graphene innovation out of the lab and into commercial applications. AMO takes the leadership of  Work Package 7 “Electronic Devices”.

  • 2010

     

    Establishment of AMOTRONICS, the first spin-off of AMO GmbH

    The expertise in precision metrology developed through years of research at AMO leads to the creation of a spin-off company: AMOtronics.

  • 2007

     

  • 2006

     

    Start of the research activities on graphene electronics

    AMO reacted quickly to the discovery of graphene in 2004, launching a new research line dedicated to exploring the potential of this new material for electronic and optoelectronic applications.

  • 2005

     

    World’s first transistor with epitaxial Gd2O3

    First successful attempt to integrate crystalline high-K dielectrics into a “gentle” damascene metal gate process for the fabrication of MOSFETs.

  • 2003

     

    Start of the activities in silicon photonics

    AMO launches a dedicated research line on Silicon Nanophotonics, focusing in particular at combining silicon-based electronics and photonics.

  • 2002

     

  • 2000

     

    Up into the nano world!

    AMO focuses its research on nanotechnology and acquires an advanced electron beam lithography tool with 10nm resolution.

  • 1997

     

    Opening of the cleanroom AMICA (Advanced Microelectronic Center Aachen)

    AMO’s cleanroom was inaugurated on July 7, 1997, in the presence of the Nobel laureates Nicolaas Bloembergn and Leo Esaki. Scientific work can now really begin.

  • 1995

     

    Inauguration of ANIMA, AMO’s wind power plant

    From the beginning, AMO has adopted an ecological and resource-saving approach, looking for renewable energy sources to cover part of its energy needs. With its three 20-meter rotating blades, ANIMA produced an average of more than 600,000 kWh of electrical energy per year, supplying about 50% of the energy consumed in the clean room. The turbine had to be dismantled in May 2021 due to damage to the concrete tower.

  • 1994

     

    Groundbreaking ceremony

    Official start of the construction works of the AMO building, which, with his dome, will become a landmark in Campus Melaten.

  • 1993

     

    Foundation of AMO GmbH

    In Autumn 1992, the state government of NRW decided to allocate a significant amount of European funding in actions aimed at raising the level of innovation in NRW. Under the impulse of Prof. Dr. Heinrich Kurz, one of these actions was the founding of AMO GmbH, on February 12, 1993. From the start, AMO has been in charge of the planning, the construction and the operation of the “Advanced Microelectronic Center Aachen” (AMICA).