Press Releases

The development of novel therapeutics offer great hope for the fight against widespread diseases such as cancer, but they can impair the cardiovascular system, so development often fails early on. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM and Hannover Medical School have developed a complex cardiac organoid model that can be used to study the potential cardiotoxicity of new medications. Their miniature heart even has an immune system of its own.

An increasing number of electronic waste are not being properly disposed of but are often discarded together with plastic waste, for example. If the batteries in these products are damaged, they can cause fires at sorting plants. In the DangerSort project, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS are using a sensor-based sorting system to remove hazardous items and make recycling plants safer.

The heads of the CDU, CSU and SPD political parties unveiled their coalition agreement on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. With an eye to the German science, research and innovation system, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft believes the agreement contains important measures that can help bolster Germany’s innovative strength and competitiveness. The President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Holger Hanselka, welcomes key points of the agreement, which is to be approved in the weeks to come.

Every year, some 5.6 million metric tons of plastic packaging winds up in household waste in Germany after being used just once. So far, less than a third of it can be recycled. Working in partnership with Hochschule Bremen — City University of Applied Sciences, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM aims to transform this waste into high-quality 3D-printed products.

Nuclear fusion is a source of great hope for future energy security, with this field being explored in research reactors around the world. Accurately detecting their performance requires measurement systems that supply valid data even under extreme conditions. And the centerpiece of those systems are the bolometers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems IMM. Experts from the institute will be presenting their sophisticated sensors at the joint Fraunhofer booth (Hall 2, Booth B24) at this year’s Hannover Messe trade show from March 31 to April 4.

One attack, many responses — organizations use various solutions to ward off online attacks. The playbooks that outline countermeasures also vary in their specifics. In the CyberGuard project, Fraunhofer researchers are working on standardized playbooks to help companies optimize their security strategies and align them with each other. The playbooks are generated by large language models and support the automation of IT security.

Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMI have developed a technology that makes it possible to reclaim continuous carbon fibers from composite materials — without diminishing material quality. High-power lasers are used for local degradation of the matrix of multi-layered fiber-reinforced plastics at high temperatures. This method offers not only ecological benefits but also considerable economic potential.

To survive in global competition over the long term, companies have to be efficient, cost-effective and use resources wisely in their production operations. AI-based monitoring and control of production based on ECC4P offers medium-sized businesses customized solutions with comprehensive data security from a single source. The research team will be presenting their solutions at the joint Fraunhofer booth at this year’s Hannover Messe trade show.

As part of a Fraunhofer flagship project, researchers are developing a digital ecosystem that collects data along the entire value chain for raw materials — with the goal of ensuring a sustainable and resilient supply. This makes it possible to reuse and recycle materials energy-efficiently and with as little loss as possible. At the Hannover Messe 2025, the research team will be presenting a demonstrator that showcases the many different options offered by this ecosystem.

In a landmark collaboration underscoring 60 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany, the Israel Innovation Authority and Germany's Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. have signed a joint declaration to advance technological innovation. This partnership aims to foster cooperation in key technological sectors, promoting joint research and development initiatives that will benefit both nations.