BI Expands Research with New Research Group
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Elif Bilge Kavun Appointed as Group Lead at BI and Professor at TU Dresden Chair
With the launch of the new research group Secure Digital Systems (SDS), the Barkhausen Institut (BI) takes a major step forward in its long-term research strategy. Advancing the core of its mission, the institute is now significantly expanding its focus on the security of digital technologies - from traditional computing to AI-driven systems. The group is headed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Elif Bilge Kavun, who also takes up the newly established Chair for Secure Digital Systems at TU Dresden.
“I’m excited to help shape this new research area at BI and TU Dresden,” says Prof. Kavun. “Security must be integral to the design of all digital systems - whether conventional or intelligent. My goal is to create complete, practical solutions that protect the technologies we increasingly depend on and ensure they remain trustworthy. It’s an exciting opportunity to contribute to an area that aligns closely with the strategic priorities of both institutions.”
With SDS, the BI strengthens its focus on the trustworthiness and sovereignty of digital technologies that underpin modern infrastructure. The group will explore different ways systems can be attacked – from physical signals that unintentionally leak information to implementation errors. It will develop cryptographic methods and hardware solutions that keep systems secure, even when operating under hostile conditions or in security-critical settings. This research ultimately contributes to the safety, security, and reliability of technologies we all rely on - from secure medical devices to trustworthy devices and AI in public infrastructure and smart homes.
“We warmly welcome Prof. Kavun to the Barkhausen Institut and TU Dresden,” says Prof. Gerhard Fettweis, Scientific Director and CEO of the Barkhausen Institut. “With her outstanding expertise in the security of emerging systems, she significantly strengthens our research in a field that is vital for the future. Her appointment marks a significant step toward realizing our vision for trustworthy digital technologies and further deepens the cooperation between BI and TU Dresden.”
Prof. Kavun joins the BI from the University of Passau, where she led the professorship of Secure Intelligent Systems. Her previous academic and industrial experience includes roles at the University of Sheffield, Infineon Technologies, and the Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security (HGI), Ruhr University Bochum.
At BI, her research will focus on real-world security applications, bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical implementation. Her work spans secure hardware systems, resource-efficient cryptography, fault tolerance, and the protection of AI-based systems from both internal and external manipulation - always with a focus on ensuring trustworthy system behavior even under adverse conditions.
This dual appointment underlines BI’s close collaboration with TU Dresden and reflects the institute’s mission to foster research that supports technological sovereignty, trustworthiness, open innovation, and public trust.
Further information can be found on the webpage of the Secure Digital Systems research group and on the personal webpage of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Elif Bilge Kavun.