Fraunhofer IDMT

Fraunhofer IDMT – Your Partner in Research and Development

The Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT is one of over 70 institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the world's leading organization for applied research based in Germany.

Fraunhofer IDMT is known worldwide for its expertise in the fields of psycho- and electro-acoustics and audio engineering, audiovisual content analysis, intelligent signal analysis and machine learning.

At the Institute’s headquarters on the campus of the Ilmenau Technische Universität,, researchers are working on AI-based recognition and classification methods for audio and video data to improve quality control for industrial applications, and for applications in broadcasting, television and online media.

In Ilmenau, the Institute’s applied research focuses on modern methods for data encryption and privacy protection to ensure the security and sovereignty of data for individuals, as well as in a commercial context. Another focus is on developing customer-specific solutions for innovative sound reinforcement and loudspeaker systems, work that has been ongoing for more than 15 years. Application areas include industrial production, broadcasting and entertainment, automotive, and professional audio.

At the Institute’s division for Hearing, Speech and Audio Technology (HSA), located in Oldenburg, researchers are working to transpose scientific findings related to hearing perception and man-machine interaction into technological applications.

In Oldenburg, the Institute’s applied research focuses on the enhancement of sound quality and speech intelligibility, personalized audio reproduction, automatic speech recognition and acoustic event detection based on artificial intelligence. Another focus is on the use of mobile neurotechnologies, which facilitate the recording of brain activity and the use of its resulting data outside the laboratory, too. Application fields include consumer electronics, transport, the automotive sector, industrial production, security, telecommunications, and healthcare.

Fraunhofer IDMT has close research collaborations with several German universities. These include the Ilmenau Technische Universität, the Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg and the Jade Hochschule Wilhelmshaven, in Oldenburg and Elsfleth.

Since 2019, the institute has been directed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Joachim Bös. Currently, more than 120 employees work at Fraunhofer IDMT, collaborating across disciplines and locations depending on the research project and application scenario.