Under this collaboration, Stephan Held, Stefan Hougardy, and Jens Vygen — along with a team of approximately 30 researchers and students — have developed foundational algorithms known as BonnTools. These algorithms are essential to the design of today’s most advanced processor chips. Thanks to the mathematical innovations from Bonn, it is possible to route kilometers of wiring within an area no larger than a thumbnail, minimizing detours and avoiding interference between wires.
Despite decades of success, many challenges remain—especially as technological advances continue to push the boundaries of chip design. To address these evolving demands, IBM and the University of Bonn are deepening their collaboration through an expanded cooperation. This next phase aims to enable even denser chip layouts, resulting in more powerful and energy-efficient processors.
Institute Director Jens Vygen expressed his enthusiasm: "This expansion allows us to continue to add students to our team, giving them early exposure to applied mathematical research. Many of them go on to make significant contributions."
Leon Stok, Vice President, IBM Electronic Design Automation: "I have had the privilege of collaborating with the Bonn team for over 25 years. The Institute for Discrete Mathematics consistently attracts and educates some of the most talented students in the field. Many of these individuals have made significant, often groundbreaking, contributions during their Master's and doctoral research, and have gone on to pursue successful careers at IBM and within the broader Electronic Design Automation industry."
Rector Michael Hoch says: “The cooperation with IBM stands as a model of how pioneering research and effective knowledge transfer can drive technological innovation. Ideas developed in Bonn continue to have a global impact! I am therefore especially pleased that this cooperation is now being renewed and further deepened, reinforcing our shared commitment to excellence in both research and application.”
Birgit Schwarz, Director Hardware Development, IBM Germany Research & Development, Böblingen: “Our engineers work closely with Bonn researchers to tackle some of the toughest challenges in chip design. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how quickly ideas move from theory to impact. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together and incredibly excited about the breakthroughs this next phase could unlock for IBM and the industry.”
Four decades of transfer into practice
The cooperation between the University of Bonn and IBM, established by Bernhard Korte (1939–2025), has been in place for almost four decades and is a prime example of the successful transfer of know-how from basic research into practical application. Numerous microprocessors have already been developed using the “BonnTools”; there is hardly a high-quality chip in today's electronic devices that does not contain expertise from Bonn. Bonn's expertise is also found in other sectors of the economy, such as the real-time optimization of routes for parcel and delivery services.
