Press / Newsroom

In the Clean Aviation project, Fraunhofer researchers teamed up with partners to develop a system that causes icy spots on aircraft wings to vibrate, removing the ice. This dramatically reduces the amount of energy needed for deicing in comparison to conventional methods. The technology is also suitable for low-emission propulsion of the future.

Fraunhofer researchers have developed a system that uses sensors and AI to monitor a driver's cognitive load. In the future, this technology could ease driver strain when they reach their stress limit. The system can also be applied in other fields, such as for pilots or surgeons. The researchers are using an innovative sensor network for the project — as well as a PC game for preparing virtual sushi.

Paraplegics need a new catheter about four to eight times a day to be able to empty their bladder. Due to their anatomy, women usually require assistance when replacing their catheter. This can not only be embarrassing for them but also increases the risk of urinary tract infections — and thus of bladder cancer later on in life. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA now want to make everyday life easier for affected women.

His discovery of spectral lines revolutionized optics, and his inventions paved the way for precision measurements and modern lighting technology. Despite his desire to explore, he never lost sight of his ultimate goal: to put his inventions and developments into practice. This is also the mission of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, which in 2026 will commemorate the 200th anniversary of its eponym’s death. At the initiative of the German Commission for UNESCO, Joseph von Fraunhofer is also to be commemorated in a commemorative year under the auspices of UNESCO. The UN agency announced this at its General Conference.

In light of the growing demand for energy storage for the energy transition, there is an urgent need for cost-effective, safe and resource-efficient battery technologies. Sodium-ion batteries based on locally available and environmentally friendly materials offer a promising approach. Fraunhofer researchers and their project partners are working on a sodium-ion battery system based on lignin, a by-product of the wood and pulp industry.

Before a car rolls off the production line, manufacturers run virtual tests on it. Simulating tires is particularly challenging since they are subject to extreme stress when driving over potholes and bumps. This is where CDTire comes into play. The tire modeling software developed by Fraunhofer researchers enables realistic tire models and supports the automotive industry in a wide range of analysis scenarios. Manfred Bäcker and Christoph Burkhart from the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM explain how the new software also helps reduce costs and shift time-consuming test drives from the real-world test track to the vehicle simulator.

Infectious complications are not uncommon after implant placement. The risk is higher in heavily contaminated wounds, which are particularly common in war zones such as Ukraine, where many bone injuries require treatment. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM in Bremen have developed a new functionalized surface that can be loaded with antibiotics.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft welcomes the official launch of the German government’s High-Tech Agenda and sees it as a strong signal that innovation policy is being prioritized. Today's launch marks the start of the urgently needed rapid implementation of the program, which aims to strengthen Germany’s innovative capacity and accelerate the translation of strategic technologies into practice. The key to success is the freedom to innovate.

In conjunction with his appointment as professor of Information Technology and Electronics at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Giovanni Del Galdo will join the institute management team of the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS on November 1, 2025. Previously, he served as a professor at Technische Universität Ilmenau and headed the Electronic Measurements and Signal Processing department at Fraunhofer IIS.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has appointed Thorsten M. Buzug executive director of the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Individualized and Cell-Based Medical Engineering IMTE in Lübeck. Buzug, who has been heading Fraunhofer IMTE on an interim basis since 2020, is now assuming permanent responsibility for the scientific, structural and strategic development of the research unit.