Research activities are concentrated mainly in digital signal processing, audio engineering, and psycho acoustics, e.g. projects in analysis and syntheses of sound and loudness perception.
The IEM is very active in the field of Artistic Research. As part of the 'Doctor Artium' program of the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, several art-based doctorates have been supervised at the IEM. Also, since 2011 IEM staff members have won seven PEEK grands for various artistic research projects, each with a run-time of three years. The PEEK program is a highly competitive research program for artistic research in Austria, and is funded by the Austrian Science Fund.
Education
At IEM, compositions students are trained in musical acoustics, sound synthesis, algorithmic composition, and real-time systems. The institute has established an audio engineering curriculum in collaboration with the Graz University of Technology. The most important aspects of these courses is to bring technology and artistic creativity closer together.
The IEM offers a 3-year bachelor and a 2-year master program in Computer Music. The main focusses of this three-year program – the first of its kind in Austria – are:
As these areas strongly overlap in the computermusic practice, the presentation of a broad range of expertise is at the forefront of studying. Furthermore, the students get a comprehensive understanding of the history, theory and aesthetics of computer music. Some of the offered courses are taking place in collaboration with the Institute of Composition, Music Theory and Conducting of the Graz University of Music and Dramatic Arts
IEM provides technology and know-how to composers and musicians in the creation and realization of their works. Since 1990, IEM has collaborated with guest artists in the production and performance of more than 80 new compositions. In this process, many international partnerships have been established. Since 2014 the IEM is also offering an Artist-In-Residence program, which enables the selected artist to work at the facilities of the IEM for a duration of 5 months. The selected Artists-In-Residence are:
