Barkhausen Institute

What Barkhausen Institute does

Barkhausen Institut (legal entity Barkhausen Institut gGmbH) is a non-profit German research institute headquartered at Schweriner Straße 1 in Dresden, organized as a limited liability company (gGmbH) under the parentage of TU Dresden while operating with stated scientific and economic independence. It focuses on the trustworthiness of networked electronic systems, spanning IoT security, 6G communications, chip design, secure computing platforms, and formal verification of hardware and software. Its technical portfolio combines hardware IP (the Masur25 research chip, analog mixed-signal radio chips, scalable platform chips, and a granted patent on compact multi-antenna designs), software IP (the M³ modular operating system for Trusted Execution Environments, contributions to the RIOT IoT OS, and the open-source HermesPy link-level wireless simulator with mobility extensions), and methodologies spanning formal verification, machine-verified cryptography, and AI-assisted data protection.

The institute does not sell commercial products or services; instead it operates a publicly funded research and science-communication model. Revenue is sourced from German federal ministries (BMBF, BMWK, BMDV, BMWSB), the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), the German Research Foundation (DFG), the European Union (e.g., Hexa-X-II, COREnext, CYMEDSEC), the Cyberagentur, the VolkswagenStiftung, and the Free State of Saxony. Outputs are disseminated via open-source releases, peer-reviewed publications, conference demonstrations, industry collaborations, and public outreach — including the COSMO Science Forum at Kulturpalast Dresden and the Lernlabor/Robo Kids educational programs — serving research institutions, healthcare and medical technology partners, industrial collaborators in telecoms, automotive, and automation, and the general public. The institute is led by Managing Director and Scientific Director Prof. Dr. Gerhard Fettweis alongside Managing Director Dr. Tim Hentschel, with research group leadership across wireless connectivity and sensing, RF design, composable operating systems, scalable computing hardware, trustworthy data processing, verified system design automation, and secure digital systems.

Name

Barkhausen Institute

Legal name

Barkhausen Institut gGmbH

Website

https://barkhauseninstitut.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Barkhausen Institut is a Dresden-based non-profit research institute developing trustworthy hardware, software, and verification technologies for IoT, 6G, and chip design, serving academia, healthcare, industry, and the public via open-source outputs and funded research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IoT and 6G Research Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

OT/ICS & Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Services (BPAKAHAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) & NERC-CIP Compliance (HDADAJAC)

Keywords

• IoT security research
• 6G wireless communications
• Secure chip design
• Trustworthy computing systems
• Formal verification research

Headquarters

HQ city

Dresden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: The institute is funded primarily through public research grants from German federal ministries (BMBF, BMWK, BMDV, BMWSB), the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), the German Research Foundation (DFG), the European Union, and the Free State of Saxony. Additional funding comes from agencies like the Cyberagentur (Agentur für Innovation in der Cybersicherheit GmbH) and organizations like VolkswagenStiftung.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Barkhausen Institut is a German non-profit research institute conducting fundamental and applied research on the trustworthiness of networked electronic systems, with focus on IoT security, 6G wireless communications, secure chip design, modular operating systems, and formal verification. Its deliverables include open-source research software (HermesPy), research chip platforms (Masur25, Platform Chips), modular OS architectures (M³), analog mixed-signal radio chips, and public science outreach through the COSMO Science Forum and Learning Lab programs.

Product overview

Barkhausen Institute is a German research institute focused on trustworthiness in networked electronic systems, operating as a research organization rather than a commercial product company. Its offerings include open-source software tools (HermesPy simulator, RIOT IoT OS), hardware platforms (M³ modular operating system, Masur25 research chip, platform chips, analog mixed-signal radio chips), and public outreach facilities (COSMO Science Forum, Learning Lab). The portfolio centers on 6G communication, IoT security, chip design, and formal verification technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HermesPy An open-source link-level wireless simulator used by researchers and engineers to simulate and analyze wireless communication systems, including extended mobility features.
• M³ Platform A modular operating system platform for isolating critical components and enhancing security in connected systems. M³ enables core-independent and cooperating Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs).
• Masur25 Research Chip A research chip platform enabling researchers to develop and test their own chip modules without designing a complete chip, supporting secure hardware architecture development for trustworthy digital systems.
• Platform Chips Secure and energy-efficient platform chips for connected devices using scalable multiprocessor systems with built-in security mechanisms, targeting smartphones, smart home systems, and vehicle systems.
• Analog Mixed-Signal Radio Chips Radio frequency hardware for future communication and radar systems, including energy-efficient, reconfigurable platforms for Joint Communication and Sensing (JCAS), enabling safer mobility, more efficient networks, and medical applications such as next-generation computer tomography.
• COSMO Science Forum A science forum in Dresden Kulturpalast offering interactive exhibitions, workshops, science cafés, and public talks for science communication and public engagement.
• Learning Lab (Lernlabor) MINT workshops and educational programs for children and youth, including robotics, coding, and science education activities such as Robo Kids.
• JETLAG Video Game An interactive video game for science communication about IoT and connected technologies.

Quantifiable outcome

• First machine-verified cryptographic verification of Remote Attestation developed
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability11 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TU Dresden (Technische Universität Dresden)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBI is a subsidiary of TU Dresden but operates scientifically and economically independently. Prof. Gerhard Fettweis holds a professorship at TU Dresden. Multiple joint research groups and projects with university departments.
• DRESDEN-conceptcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch alliance of Dresden research institutions. BI participates in joint initiatives including Women@DDc network, Welcome Center services, and collaborative events.
• Women@DDc NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with TU Dresden's Diversity Management (Sachgebiet 9.3) launched in 2022 to better network female scientists and science managers within DRESDEN-concept, with over 500 members.
• ijgd (Internationale Jugendgemeinschaftsdienste Bundesverein e.V.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for the Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (FSJ) in Science program, providing 25 seminar days of training during the voluntary service year.
• Smart Systems HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on IoT security topics, guest contributions by BI researchers on smart systems hub platforms.
• Welcome Center DresdenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides support services for international employees including visa assistance, registration, health insurance information, and housing search assistance.
• berufundfamilie gGmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertification organization for family-friendly working conditions. BI has been certified in 2020 and 2023 through the audit process.
• COSMO Science Forum (Kulturpalast Dresden)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint science communication forum in Dresden Kulturpalast. BI manages and operates public exhibitions and events at the venue.
• Städtische Bibliotheken DresdenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint educational programs including 'KI für Kinder' format combining reading sessions and workshops for school students. Awarded LeLa-Preis 2025.
• Fraunhofer IISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on MS Wissenschaft exhibition, jointly presenting research on mobile data transmission energy consumption.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IMEC: World-leading semiconductor and nanoelectronics research center headquartered in Belgium. Directly comparable in chip design, 6G communications, and IoT security research at a larger scale.
• CSEM: Swiss applied research organization working in IoT, ultra-low-power chips, and digital trust. Comparable in scale, funding model, and focus on embedded systems trustworthiness.
• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch applied research organization with significant cybersecurity, IoT, and communication systems programs. Closely comparable in mission, funding structure, and technology transfer orientation.
• CEA-Leti: French research institute specializing in micro/nanoelectronics, 6G, IoT, and cybersecurity. Shares Barkhausen's profile of combining chip design with systems-level security research under public funding.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (IIS): German applied research institute with overlapping work in communication systems, IoT, and security. Both operate as publicly funded non-profit research entities serving industry with similar technology transfer models.
• IHP — Innovations for High Performance Microelectronics: German research institute focused on silicon-based systems, chip design, and wireless communications. Closely comparable in chip design, IoT, and trustworthy systems research with a similar public funding profile.
• Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI): Specializes in wireless communications, 6G research, and photonic networks — directly overlapping with Barkhausen's wireless connectivity and sensing research. Operates from Berlin with comparable public funding model.
• Fraunhofer AISEC: Fraunhofer institute dedicated to cybersecurity and trust in embedded systems. Most direct overlap in IoT security, hardware root-of-trust, and formal verification mandates.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Nordic applied research institute with comparable work in 6G, communication security, and IoT. Operates as a state-owned non-profit with similar industry-collaboration model.

Emerging players

• Max Planck Institute for Informatics: German academic research institute with strong programs in cryptography, formal verification, and security. Less directly comparable than applied-research peers but overlaps in verification methods and trustworthy systems research.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/barkhausen-institut

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Barkhausen Institute