Press / Newsroom

A cornerstone of the energy transition, offshore wind energy supplies millions of consumers with green electricity. Export cables connect offshore wind farms to the grid onshore. The cable routes need to be surveyed regularly to ensure that the cable positions are precisely known — but the acoustic and magnetic methods that are currently used to do this are time-consuming, incur high costs and lack reliability. For this reason, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES are working with partners to develop a novel measuring system for cable localization as part of the SASACD project. It overcomes the hurdles that existing systems present and not only allows cables to be located over extensive areas but can also penetrate to sufficient depths in sediment.

A second institute director is joining the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM in Berlin: Starting in August 2024, Prof. Ulrike Ganesh will work with Prof. Martin Schneider-Ramelow. The two of them will jointly further develop and shape the microelectronics institute’s strategic alignment.

The digital transformation means that more and more devices such as X-ray and ultrasound machines are being connected to networks in hospital settings, for example. These kinds of equipment have to be movable as needed. In the LINCNET project, Fraunhofer researchers are using light to transmit data to machines and robots in clinical settings and industrial production environments. Combining electrical networks with the ultra-fast 5G mobile network creates powerful and low-cost wireless networks for buildings. When deployed in hospitals, this solution means devices connect wirelessly to the network — with lower electromagnetic emissions. It also makes industrial production significantly more flexible.

The tiniest parts of matter provide insight into big contexts. Sunlight, magnetism and molecular interactions are just some of the things that cannot be explained conclusively without them. As a basis for advanced technologies, quantum physics is set to achieve great things across a range of different areas. What is the current status of advances in quantum computing, communications, imaging and sensors?

Products from Germany’s factories enjoy an excellent reputation. In 2017, the “Made in Germany” label was ranked first in a study by statistics portal and market research firm Dalia Research. A recent study by entrepreneurship platform Meisterkreis, transformation research agency Sturm und Drang and agency group Serviceplan Group found that 25 percent of consumers in Europe, China and the United States favor German brands. Or rather, they still do. There is a trend toward domestic products, notably driven by U.S. President Donald Trump and his “America First” policy. And, as the study also reveals, German products have a worsening image here in their home country. Some 42 percent of German participants indicated that their reputation has declined. So how is the German art of engineering doing? Which technologies and methods might help to secure a competitive edge internationally? And how can the research sector support industry?

Science year 2025 - Energy of the Future: Fraunhofer is working to further develop and refine hydrogen technologies and geothermal systems while boosting their efficiency and at the same time to make nuclear fusion possible in the long term as an ecofriendly source of energy. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has dedicated Science Year 2025 to these energy forms of the future.

Fungal mycelium as a construction material, ecofriendly concrete and smart recycling solutions pave the way for climate neutrality.

The weapons available for fighting dangerous bacteria are losing their edge, and life-threatening infections are increasingly resistant to treatment. There are hardly any substitutes available so far, making it high time someone took action.

Fraunhofer-Forschende entwickeln Quantensysteme für verschiedene Anwendungen und Branchen, um damit Antworten auf die großen Herausforderungen unserer Zeit zu finden – ob Klima, Gesundheit, Verkehr oder Sicherheit.

The next stage in the evolution of technology is coming up: Artificial intelligence is poised to turn robots into all-around self-learners, helping out in industry, logistics, nursing, and private households. Will smart machines radically reshape our lives – and especially our working lives – not long from now?

The collapse of the Carola Bridge in Dresden has demonstrated how important it is to identify infrastructure weaknesses at an early stage. Indeed, roads and bridges, railways and power lines in Germany are showing their age, and some of them have significant structural defects. According to the latest condition survey from 2022, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), 7,112 kilometers of highway, 8,000 highway bridges and 17,630 kilometers of rail are classified as in need of repair. Innovative Fraunhofer solutions can help simplify, expedite, and cut costs of maintenance, analysis and servicing work − an overview.

During this year of back-to-back elections, reality is catching up with the warnings experts have been making for years: deepfakes and disinformation have been supercharged by artificial intelligence. With fakes now so convincing, more and more people are asking themselves: Can I believe my eyes and ears?

Sometimes there’s too much, sometimes too little: Water, the most important factor in our survival, doesn’t make it easy for us. How can we ensure an adequate water supply even amid climate challenges?

Raw materials are scarce. Time and again, shortages have forced companies to cut back on their production. The circular economy may be the solution — for far more than just the climate.

Welcome to the world of quanta, where nothing seems logical, but everything appears possible. A new era is dawning with quantum technologies helping us to better understand and order our world. Fraunhofer is bringing science to applications.

The Dry Coating Forum is a forum for material suppliers, equipment manufacturers, cell makers and end users to exchange information about current trends, developments and challenges in the field of dry coating technologies.

What properties can be achieved for additively manufactured copper? Which geometries can be realized and which process chain is required for a particular application? Which additive processes are available and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

The Sodium Battery Symposium – SBS is the conference for scientific exchange on sodium batteries in Europe. The SBS6 will cover all aspects of Na-based batteries, from fundamental research up to systems, along with testing, markets and applications. It wants to strengthen the community around sodium batteries and intends to enable an open exchange of information on current scientific results, research interests, as well as market requirements.

The ECerS conference takes place every two years and is an important platform for the exchange of cutting-edge research and product development in various ceramics-related fields.