For the first time, the German trade Journal Elektronik has awarded prizes to young engineers and universities for Masters dissertations on green electronics. The TU Berlin research department Microelectronics Assembly and Interconnection Technologies, which is headed by IZM Director Prof. Herbert Reichl, won the competition, with its paper Energy harvesting in microsystem technology technical opportunities and limits allowing for sustainability, written by Stephan Benecke. Beneckes results were developed further within the TU Berlin/Fraunhofer IZM project EcoMoS (Energy Autarkic Condition Monitoring System). EcoMoS is developing a wireless network of sensor nodes with self-sufficient power supply for machine monitoring, which is to be installed in the harsh operating conditions of a paper factory as part of a regular condition-monitoring schedule.

Benecke received 3000 euros, donated by Rittal GmbH & Co., while TU Berlin, or more precisely, the department Microelectronics Assembly and Interconnection Technologies was awarded the Elektronik Ecodesign Cup 2009 for the excellent dissertation.