Success for the innovation center of Jena: The Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) is supporting the establishment of a new Leibniz Center for Photonics in Infection Research (LPI). The BMBF selected the LPI as part of a national roadmap process and thereby evidenced the uniqueness of Jena’s research infrastructure in Europe and its ability to contribute to finding solutions to the challenges society is facing. The applicants were the Leibniz Institute for Photonic Technology, the Hans Knöll Institute, the University hospital and the Friedrich Schiller University – all located in Jena. The project funding that was applied for reached a sum of 150 million euros.
The ability to diagnose and treat infectious diseases more quickly can save lives. As more and more pathogens develop a resistance to antibiotics, efficient and time-saving diagnostic and therapeutic tools are becoming more and more important. At the new LPI, light-based technology will form the basis for developing specific solutions that will benefit patients. It will also pool the expertise in the fields of optics, photonics and infection research that is present in Jena and is committed to openness and an interdisciplinary approach: In the future, it will be a place for natural scientists, technology developers, medical professionals and medical device manufacturers to collaborate. Industrial consumers will also benefit from LPI, as the new center is intended to form the basis for an increased technology transfer between researchers and businesses in this technological and industrial sector. (hw)
