Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

 

Joseph von Fraunhofer Commemorative Year under the Patronage of UNESCO

June 7, 2026, was the 200th anniversary of Joseph von Fraunhofer’s death. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft takes this as an opportunity to honor its eponym with numerous initiatives and events. UNESCO also pays tribute to Joseph von Fraunhofer as a pioneer who bridged research and practice by declaring 2026 a commemorative year in his honor.

13.7.2026

Kickoff for the Big "FFB Fab": Münster Becomes the Heart of European Battery Production

More than 140 scientists are already advancing the industry-oriented production of battery cells at "FFB PreFab". The topping-out ceremony on July 13, 2026 marks the start of the decisive construction phase. On the approximately 39,000-square-meter site, a research infrastructure unique in Europe is being built - for battery cells up to the gigawatt scale.

29.4.2026

Remote-controlled recovery system for the Asse II mine

Bilfinger and Fraunhofer IOSB are developing a teleoperated retrieval system on behalf of the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE) to retrieve radioactive waste from the Asse II mine. The goal is to enable the safe, precise, and efficient exposure and retrieval of the waste drums – using multifunctional work machines, modern robotics, and assistance functions for the control center.

 

19.3.2026

Hugo Geiger Prize 2025

This year’s Hugo Geiger Prize for the best doctoral theses in applied research goes to three early-career researchers from Jena and Freiburg. Jointly awarded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy (StMWi) and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the prize recognizes innovative solutions developed by doctoral researchers in close cooperation with a Fraunhofer institute.

Fraunhofer IOF | New laboratories and machines for high-tech research / 10.3.2026

Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär inaugurates new research building

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF inaugurated its newest research building today with a ceremony. In addition to Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär, Thuringia's Minister President Mario Voigt and other guests from politics, business, and industry took part in the celebrations. Special highlights in the new building include a new electron beam lithography facility for the production of photonic components and a ground station for satellite-based quantum communication.

 

Press release Fraunhofer ISC | Cell-based wound care material / 13.3.2026

Rocket Launch for StellarHeal – Milestone for Future Wound Care in Space Flights and on Earth

Fraunhofer discussion paper | March 2026

Design ECF and FP10 for Transformation, Not Incremental Change

Fraunhofer is once again contributing to the debate on the future European framework conditions for R&I. In addition to clear demands for investment and a portfolio approach, the paper's core element is a proposal for a governance model linking ECF and FP10. The proposal combines the funding of research and deployment holistically along the entire innovation chain in the interests of a competitive Europe.

 

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Fraunhofer Match is the central platform for placing research requests with Fraunhofer. Our 74 Fraunhofer institutes cover all areas of applied research. You tell us about your challenge or project − and Fraunhofer Match will put you in touch with researchers who have the right expertise to help you work out solutions.

 

Fraunhofer magazine
1/2026

Cover story: Energy? Of course | and much more 

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Latest news

3.8.2026

Energy-Efficient Electric Drying With Superheated Steam

Industrial drying processes consume large amounts of energy and negatively impact the climate since they burn fossil fuels to heat air. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB are working with industry partners on a new approach to decarbonize this process: Instead of hot air, they are using superheated steam. Combined with a heat pump and smart controls, their superheated steam drying process saves significant amounts of energy and eliminates the need for natural gas.
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3.8.2026

Fraunhofer IPMS Appoints Wenke Weinreich as Second Director

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS is expanding its leadership team: Wenke Weinreich has been appointed the institute’s second director, effective immediately. In her new role, she will be working alongside Institute Director Harald Schenk and guiding the institute’s strategic and scientific direction. At the same time, she will take on the professorship in Functionalized Microelectronics for Heterogeneous Systems at the Dresden University of Technology.
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3.8.2026

Non-animal Testing of Heated Hair Products

Hair products used in hair salons release aerosols that can cause respiratory tract irritation if inhaled. Under a contract from industry, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM investigated the effects of aerosols produced when using heated chemical hair products. Using an innovative cell-based in vitro inhalation method, the researchers can estimate effects on the respiratory tract and identify potentially harmful substances. This non-animal testing method supports safe product development that is fully in line with the safe-by-design approach, which integrates safety in product development right from the start.
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3.8.2026

When the Fake Boss Calls: A Real-Time Warning System for Fake Videoconferences

Criminals use deepfakes for fraud and identity theft—even in situations where people have come to trust their eyes and ears. Corporate videoconferences are increasingly becoming a target for illegal activities. Fraunhofer researchers are working to detect attempted fraud in real time.
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