Press Releases

Due to the rapidly growing processing power of computers, conventional encryption of data is becoming increasingly insecure. One solution is coding with entangled photons. Fraunhofer researchers are developing a quantum coding source that allows the transport of entangled photons from satellites, thereby making an important step in the direction of tap-proof communication. In addition to the quantum source, researchers from various Fraunhofer institutes will be presenting other exciting optoelectronic exhibits at the LASER World of Photonics trade fair in Munich from June 26 - 29, 2017 (Hall A2, Booth 431 and Hall B3, Booth 327).

Heatwaves in the Arctic, longer periods of vegetation in Europe, severe floods in West Africa – starting in 2021, scientists want to explore the emissions of the greenhouse gas methane with the German-French satellite MERLIN. This is made possible by a new robust laser system of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen, which achieves unprecedented measurement accuracy.

Twenty years ago, the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD in Darmstadt, Germany took the bold step to form ties with Singapore. Back then, not many research institutions were thinking about internationalization, but this courage has paid off. A small project group in collaboration with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) evolved into the Fraunhofer Project Center for Interactive Digital Media in 2010. And now this center has become the first legally independent subsidiary in Asia – “Fraunhofer Singapore.”

Wind turbines rise into the sky on enormous feet. To ensure these giants can reliably generate electricity for many years to come, the iron processing industry must manufacture their massive components in a stable, resource-saving and yet cost-effective way. However, material inclusions such as dross are often unavoidable while casting. Fraunhofer researchers are currently working to detect and analyze such material defects.

Currently, factories work on a principle of “one size fits all” when it comes to replacing or regrinding tools such as drill bits, milling machines or planes after a specified period of time – whether they need it or not. Not only does this unnecessarily increase the time spent on maintenance, it is expensive, too. In the “Cute Machining” project, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS in Duisburg are working on the issue by creating individual tool “service records” and employing a new communication technology that uses RFID tags. The aim is to optimize productivity, quality, throughput time and inventory in the manufacturing operations of the Industrie 4.0 era.

The higher the concentration of tumor cells in the bloodstream, the greater the risk of metastasis. The number of circulating tumor cells indicates how well a patient is responding to therapy. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a new microhole chip that enables cells to be identified and characterized reliably within minutes.

Highly interconnected manufacturing chains, cost issues and technical feasibility make it difficult to trace individual components in mass production. Efficient “track & trace“ solutions are, however, an important prerequisite for production and process optimization — especially in the context of digitized manufacturing. With its “Track & Trace Fingerprint“ solution, the Fraunhofer-Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM in Freiburg, Germany, has developed a marker-free system for tracing mass components.

Every chemical substance absorbs a very individual fraction of infrared light. Like a human fingerprint, this absorption can be used with optical methods for identifying substances. Such methods are used in the chemical industry, for example, but also in the health sector or in criminal investigation. If a company plans a new project, it often needs individually tailored sensor solutions. In the search for a suitable system, they are now supported by the EU-funded pilot line MIRPHAB (Mid InfraRed PHotonics devices fABrication for chemical sensing and spectroscopic applications) for the development of sensor technology and measurement technology in mid-infrared (MIR). Three Fraunhofer institutes are participating in this project.

In 2016, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and its institutes were again able to build on the successful development of the previous years. The target role as a leading technology partner for the economy was further expanded. Together with its customers and project partners, the Fraunhofer institutes also developed and optimized efficient processes, new products and innovative systems in the past year with a research volume of around 2.1 billion euros. With projects such as the "Industrial Data Space", Fraunhofer emphasizes the main points in the growing demands of the economy in the age of digitization.

What to do if you fall in your home? Many elderly people ask themselves these and similar questions; they want security without having to give up their own four walls. A new technology concept, developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE in Kaiserslautern, Germany, now makes this possible – while also ensuring privacy. A communication tool integrates nursing care consultation and ensures social integration.