Press / Newsroom

On February 17, 2025, Constantin Häfner will take up his new position as Fraunhofer’s executive vice president of Research and Transfer. The Fraunhofer senate elected him to the board at its meeting on June 12, 2024. The renowned laser physicist has been the executive director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen since 2019. With Häfner taking office, the executive board of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft will be complete.

“Fume events” occur when fluids such as engine oil or hydraulic fluid contaminate the air inside an airplane cabin via the “bleed air” used for air supply and conditioning. Measurements taken in flight do not allow for determination of whether the air quality on board is negatively affected as a result. With the Bleed Air Contamination Simulator (BACS), researchers at the Fraun-hofer Institute for Building Physics IBP can artificially simulate fume events on the ground, deliberately contaminating the air inside the testing unit with oils and deicing fluids and then studying the polluted air. The results can be used to make inferences about potential health risks.

A new UN report finds that more and more electronic waste, or e-waste, is being produced worldwide—recycling efforts are not keeping pace, though. Valuable raw materials are not being recovered and recycled. Research scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF are tackling this issue. In the iDEAR project, they are developing solutions for automated, nondestructive robotic disassembly of electronics for remanufacturing and material recycling that will help establish an advanced circular economy.

From immersive exhibitions to shows and gaming, experiences that involve all five senses and offer audiences an escape into a whole different reality are all the rage right now. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institut, HHI are currently developing DOMEconnect, a platform that makes it possible to produce high-resolution immersive content and live-stream it to planetariums. This creates entirely new event formats spanning interconnected venues. Avatars also give attendees opportunities for interaction.

Microlenses applied to eyeglasses can help reduce growth-related worsening of nearsightedness (myopia), preventing potential long-term consequences. Microlenses also offer highly promising possibilities for intraocular lenses or compact microscopes. The Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS has developed a new method known as laser swelling that can be used to produce these kinds of lenses individually and at low cost.

Creating a digital twin of a machine is already a highly complex undertaking. So how difficult must it be to do that with a human organism? Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE are working on the possibilities, challenges and potential of digital patient twins. They aim to test medications on a digital “replica” in the future before a person ever takes their first pill. In this interview, Dr. Theresa Ahrens and Dr. Jonas Marcello, who jointly lead the Digital Health Engineering department at Fraunhofer IESE, explain the benefits and added value of digital patient twins.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO in Stuttgart was the target of a ransomware attack on December 27, 2024, resulting in the impairment of certain systems and data. It is not currently possible to determine the precise extent of the damage.

In winter, avalanches pose the biggest danger in mountains. Avalanche monitoring is therefore of critical importance to ensure the safety of people and infrastructure. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR are breaking new ground in avalanche detection. Passive radar — which uses signals from the new Starlink and One-Web satellite mega-constellations — enables them to detect whether avalanches have actually been triggered after controlled detonations, even in remote regions without terrestrial infrastructure. In a feasibility study, the researchers proved that satellite mega-constellations are suitable for avalanche detection.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are considered as a promising tool in medicine, with the potential to unlock treatments for many health conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases and disorders. However, producing large amounts of hiPSCs remains a challenge. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Translational Center for Regenerative Therapies TLC-RT at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC have now developed a bioreactor that can be used for automated long-term culturing of hiPSCs.

Robot systems explore unfamiliar terrain, buildings or danger zones with cameras. In the 3D-InAus project, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE are using a LiDAR laser on a mobile robot, emitting laser pulses to measure distances. The results are used to produce geometrically accurate 3D environments.

Paludicultures such as peat moss, reed and reed canary grass are already used as construction materials, animal feed and foodstuff. Due to their low lignin content, however, peatland plants could also be an attractive alternative to wood as a raw material source for sustainable paper packaging. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV have already demonstrated in feasibility tests that peatland plants have great potential for the manufacture of folding boxes, trays and similar items.

District heating networks are growing increasingly complex as a result of feeding in renewable energy and the trend toward decentralization. In the AD Net Heat project, Fraunhofer researchers are simulating heat flows throughout the entire network, predicting load peaks and helping to plan new grids.

A universal modular construction system: In the BAU-DNS flagship project, seven Fraunhofer institutes are developing innovative methods for the sustainable, modular and circular refurbishment of existing buildings, aimed at industry and small and medium-sized enterprises. They will be presenting recent findings and solutions at the BAU 2025 trade show in Munich from January 13 to 17.

At least 8,000 highway overpasses and 17,630 kilometers of railway across Germany are dilapidated, but repairs and rebuilding will take time. How Fraunhofer technology is accelerating service and maintenance – so the Carola Bridge collapse in Dresden will remain an isolated incident. so the Carola Bridge collapse in Dresden will remain an isolated incident.

Germany is investing in security and defense. There are numerous research projects ready to launch, not only within the Bundeswehr but also in the realms of civil defense and critical infrastructure. Not all challenges have been resolved yet, but the future is looking brighter.

Whether in electric vehicles, medical technology or smart devices, batteries have become a fixture of our everyday lives. As the global energy transition advances and the need for sustainable and low-emission technologies increases, demand for powerful energy storage solutions that conserve resources is also on the rise. Battery cells represent a key technology in the energy transition, but strong research and rapid innovation transfers are the only way to tap into their full potential and meet the demand for European battery cell manufacturing.

Developing new medications is becoming more and more expensive and taking longer and longer. Now, AI and miniature organs grown in a Petri dish are helping to change that.

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.

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.

Fraunhofer brought the first quantum computers to Germany in November 2020. It's now putting them into operation. Neuromorphic computing, trusted computing and quantum computing are the three pillars for building a future.

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.

Solid electrolyte batteries are considered potential candidates that can overcome the disadvantages of conventional lithium-ion batteries in terms of safety and energy density. However, we are not yet seeing entry into the mass market and therefore ask ourselves: Where do solid electrolyte batteries stand today? Exchange different perspectives at our two-day meeting and discuss where you see solid electrolyte batteries – ante portas or still as a vision?

Symposium with focus: Mechanical recycling - Networking - Experts - Your questions

The Commercial Vehicle Technology Symposium is a two-day conference held on the campus of the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU). The conference includes approximately 50 technical papers and poster presentations focusing on international trends and technological developments in the commercial vehicle industry. The symposium will be accompanied by a trade exhibition with companies and a special vehicle exhibition.

This symposium will convene scientists, researchers, and industry experts to explore the latest advancements in technologies for wind turbine inspection and maintenance across various environments. The program will focus on innovative inspection methods, challenges in maintenance within offshore and onshore environments, successful repair strategies, and the integration of robotics and automation. Additional topics will include the training and qualification of service personnel, as well as sustainability and environmental protection during inspection and repair activities.