COBRA Annual Report 2007 - Technische Universiteit Eindhoven

2 Introduction
COBRA Research Institute
COBRA is the Inter-University Research Institute
on Communication Technology Basic Research and
Applications. Research groups from the disciplines
of physics, electrical engineering and chemistry
from Eindhoven University of Technology and Vrije
Universiteit Amsterdam in The Netherlands have
combined their efforts in the Research-Institute
COBRA to achieve added value in their education
and research. The activities range from basic
research in physics on novel materials and devices
to research on communication systems and system
applications.
COBRA is worldwide recognised as a leading
research institute in the field of optoelectronic
devices and communication systems technology.
One reason for this is the state-of-the-art
infrastructure with respect to the fabrication
of devices and with respect to the design and
characterization of devices and systems. COBRA
maintains a facility in the fields of material
growth, processing, lithography and ultra-high
bitrate analysis for ultrafast broadband optical
communication, which belongs to the most
advanced in the world. This not only makes it an
attractive place to work for top scientists from
all over the world, but makes COBRA also an
attractive partner for industrial collaborations.
Moreover, COBRA researchers find their way to
leading international institutes and industries.
These qualities brought COBRA to the position
of preferred partner in strategic alliances with
industry, academia, international projects
and Networks of Excellences in the European
Framework Programmes of the European
Commission.
COBRA Mission
The general mission of COBRA is to excel in
acquisition, transfer and application of knowledge
in communication technology and its spin-off for
society in general and for industry in particular.
In this respect communication technology should
be understood as collecting, saving, processing,
transporting, routing and presentation of
information. The central element in COBRA’s policy
is therefore to cover the full dynamical trajectory
from nano-optics and nano-electronics up to and
including the applications in communication
devices and systems. Built on a vision of longterm
developments COBRA actively defines and
initiates top-level long-term programs, in close
collaboration with industry.
COBRA in Figures for 2007
Total annual budget ~ 15 M€
Research staff ~ 20
Postdocs ~ 20
PhD students ~ 65
Technicians ~ 10
Cleanroom for III-V technology ~ 800 m 2
3