Press / Newsroom

Today (June 13, 2024), the general assembly of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft paved the way for viable and modern governance structures at Germany's largest applied research organization with a comprehensive statutory reform. The reform that was adopted will strengthen the senate as an advisory and supervisory body of the executive board and streamline Fraunhofer’s internal governance structures.

Today, June 12, 2024, the senate of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft appointed Prof. Constantin Häfner as the executive board member responsible for Research and Transfer. He is currently the executive director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen and is expected to assume his board responsibilities shortly.

From the automotive sector to production, simulations and digital twins are crucial to many companies. Because conventional software is often inadequate at modeling highly dynamic processes, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM have developed a tool called MESHFREE. This solution works without a rigid computational grid and can save a great deal of time when simulating complex processes, and it also cuts costs. Their efforts have earned them the 2024 Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize.

Flexible, disposable plastic films used in shopping or garbage bags are made mainly from petroleum-based low-density polyethylene (LDPE). These films, however, come with a large carbon footprint and contribute to environmental pollution. A team from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP has now developed a flexible and recyclable plastic film material based on polylactide (PLA) bioplastic and paved the way for its commercialization. For their efforts, they will receive the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize for 2024.

The energy transition in Germany, Europe, and across the world is driving robust demand for solar panels. Alongside high energy yields, aesthetics and acceptance are also increasingly important factors. To accommodate these trends, a team of researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has developed an innovative solar facade element that can be incorporated into a building’s exterior practically invisibly and without any significant loss of efficiency. With the development of MorphoColor® coating technology, the experts have made an important contribution to the expansion of integrated photovoltaic systems in Germany. For this groundbreaking project, they will be presented with the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize for 2024.

Invasive infections such as sepsis require immediate and targeted treatment. Experts from the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB and group partners have succeeded in establishing a reconceptualized detection principle that can make a crucial contribution to saving lives through fast, ultra-accurate pathogen identification. They have been chosen to receive the 2024 Stifterverband Science Prize for their efforts.

On June 1, Professor Sanaz Mostaghim took over as the new institute director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI. In this role, she is working together with Professor Matthias Klingner, the institute’s longstanding director, who will stay on as executive director until the end of the year.

Due to their stability and resistance to water and grease, PFAS chemicals (short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are used in a wide range industries, but they are harmful to health and the environment. Membranes containing PFAS are used in many semiconductor manufacturing processes, for example. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP have now developed a sustainable alternative in the form of an innovative, PFAS-free membrane. The chemically stable, highly permeable polymer membrane has a pore diameter of approx. seven nanometers and enables filtration of the smallest particulate contaminants. The membrane can be customized to meet specific needs, which makes it easy to integrate the new process into existing systems.

Animal testing has long been a fixture of medical and pharmaceutical research, but alternative methods are growing more and more important. Innovative methods allow for research aimed directly at humans — without using animal testing as an intermediate step. TigerShark Science, a planned Fraunhofer start-up and spin-off of the Fraunhofer Translational Center for Regenerative Therapies TLC-RT at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC, is taking this kind of approach. TigerShark Science hopes to use skin models grown from human stem cells to significantly reduce animal testing.

Fraunhofer researchers have developed a technology that uses ultrasound signals for targeted stimulation of certain areas of the brain. A special ultra-sound system with 256 individually controllable transducers makes it possible to target and stimulate individual points deep inside the brain with sound signals. In the future, the innovative 3D sound technology from the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT could be used to treat diseases and conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, depression, addiction, and even the aftereffects of stroke.