Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Alle Preisträger 2015 mit Prof. Reimund Neugebauer (Fraunhofer-Präsident), Joachim Gauck (Bundespräsident) und Volker Bouffier (Ministerpräsident Hessen). (v.l.n.r.)
© Dirk Mahler/Fraunhofer
Alle Preisträger 2015 mit Prof. Reimund Neugebauer (Fraunhofer-Präsident), Joachim Gauck (Bundespräsident) und Volker Bouffier (Ministerpräsident Hessen). (v.l.n.r.)

Fraunhofer Awards Ceremony 2015

© Dirk Mahler/Fraunhofer

Fraunhofer Awards Ceremony 2015

Annual Conference of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

During the annual conference of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft on June 9 2015 in Wiesbaden the following prizes were awarded: Three Joseph von Fraunhofer prizes  and the Technology Prize for Human-Centered Technology.

Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize 2015

This prize has been awarded by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft every year since 1978, in recognition of outstanding scientific work by members of its staff leading to the solution of application-oriented problems. Over 300 researchers have meanwhile seen their work honored in this way. This year, three prizes will be awarded – each valued at 50,000 €.

 

© Dirk Mahler/Fraunhofer

Diamond-like coatings save fuel

Coating engine components with hard carbon reduces friction to almost zero – a development that could save billions of liters of fuel worldwide every year. Prof. Andreas Leson, Dr. Hans-Joachim Scheibe and Dr. Volker Weihnacht of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden received the 2015 Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize for the development of the laser arc method and the application of ta-C coatings in volume production.
 

© Dirk Mahler/Fraunhofer

Natural rubber from dandelions

Dandelions are modest plants that are an excellent alternative source for a raw material of high demand: natural rubber, the fundamental ingredient in rubber products. Fraunhofer researchers have established the basis for the large-scale production of high quality rubber with Russian dandelion. For their work on the Russian dandelion and its application as a source of natural rubber, Prof. Dirk Prüfer, Dr. Christian Schulze Gronover of the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME in Aachen and Dr. Carla Recker of Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH are recipients of the 2015 Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize.
 

© Dirk Mahler/Fraunhofer

A concert hall for on the move

Researchers have developed new audio software that creates a natural three-dimensional sound. Whether you‘re listening on your smartphone or in the car, it feels like you’re right there in the concert hall. For the development and market launch of Cingo and Symphoria, Oliver Hellmuth, Jan Plogsties and Harald Popp of the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS are recipients of the 2015 Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize.

Fraunhofer Prize Human-Centered Technology

The award for Human-Centered Technology is funded by former Executive Board members and institute directors of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and outside sponsors associated with them. This prize is awarded every two years – alternating with the Donors’ Association Prize – to those employees whose research and development work makes a significant contribution to improving people’s quality of life and maintaining their active participation in daily life into old age. The prize of 50,000 euros will be awarded on June 9 at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s annual conference in Wiesbaden.

 

© Dirk Mahler/Fraunhofer

Plasma makes wounds heal quicker

Many people suffer from skin disorders. Open wounds are a particularly acute problem, especially among the elderly. Working in collaboration with the company Cinogy and the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology at the University Medical Center Göttingen, the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST has successfully developed a new medical technology solution for treating wounds and skin disorders known as »PlasmaDerm«. Prof. Wolfgang Viöl, Dr. Andreas Helmke, Prof. Steffen Emmert and Dr. Dirk Wandke jointly accepted the Fraunhofer Prize Human-Centered Technology for their development of PlasmaDerm.