Press / Newsroom

If detected early, the prognosis for skin cancer is excellent. An innovative full-body scanner linked to an AI diagnostic platform is set to help with early detection of melanoma. In just six minutes, it automatically scans a patient’s entire body, providing a risk assessment for each anomalous change found in the skin. Twenty partners are working together to develop the diagnostic system as part of the EU-funded iToBoS project. To ensure that the AI they are using works reliably and safely, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institut, HHI are incorporating explainable AI (XAI) technologies into the AI tools used.

The European electricity supply system is currently in flux as a result of the energy transition. An increasing number of plants and systems are feeding into the decentralized power grid through power electronics. In the future, hybrid power grids will incorporate sections with alternating and direct current lines. The partners in the InterSCADA EU project are developing a modular SCADA platform intended to help grid operators throughout Europe to maintain system stability in increasingly hybrid AC/DC power grids. In this interview, Robin Patrick Williams, a research scientist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT, explains why a SCADA platform is necessary in order to automate future transmission and distribution grids. Williams and Prof. Antonello Monti, a group manager at Fraunhofer FIT, are jointly responsible for coordinating the project.

In the EcoHub research project, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA have teamed up with partners to develop a service-oriented platform designed to collect and process sustainability data on a centralized basis. The platform makes it easier for manufacturing companies to draft environmental reports and apply for certification.

Applications such as self-driving vehicles, 6G mobile communications and quantum communications are pushing fiber optic networks to their limits. Fraunhofer researchers have joined forces with partners to devise clever ways to optimize data transmission. Optical switches with liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) mirrors shrink data packets down to size so the network can carry more data, while signals are distributed across different fiber strands to create more flexibility.

Fraunhofer researchers have developed sensor systems and measuring equipment that detect leaks in hydrogen lines and tanks. Applications for the new technology include continuous monitoring of hydrogen shipments and facilities in the chemical industry. The researchers use multiple sensor technologies to provide safety equipment covering as many scenarios of the future hydrogen economy as possible.

A delegation consisting of representatives from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and from Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) signed a strategic collaboration agreement in Munich today. Their groundbreaking collaboration aims to pool expertise, infrastructure and knowledge across individual research institutions to open up new paths for the commercialization of technology in industry and society.

On February 19, the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy (StMWi) and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft awarded the Hugo Geiger Prize for the best dissertations in applied research. Three next-generation researchers, one each from Freising, Munich and Aachen, were chosen as the winners for their innovative ideas and applied doctoral work completed in close collaboration with a Fraunhofer institute. The Fraunhofer Founder Award was also presented for a spin-off with an active, successful market presence.

A concrete solution for pressing challenges: In the CYCLOMETRIC project, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO have devised a solution that allows companies to incorporate sustainability assessments and circular economy concepts into the early phases of development processes — right where there is the most leverage for ecofriendly design.

Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT have teamed up with project partners to develop an AI module to help with laser material deposition. This technique is used to repair worn bucket teeth and other tools used in mining. The project partners include research organizations and companies from Canada. The Fraunhofer researchers will be presenting their solution at the Hannover Messe Preview on February 19, 2025.

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.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft will expand its activities in Heilbronn significantly with funding from the Dieter Schwarz Foundation. From 2025, a total of eight research and innovation centers will address research topics ranging from cybersecurity to quantum AI. This will provide an important impetus for innovation in Germany and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in these fields.

How can surgery be made more cost-effective, safer and more efficient in the future? An interdisciplinary French-German team has developed high-tech hybrid operating rooms that harness the power of 5G and AI to unlock whole new applications.

Storms, hail, rising floodwaters — extreme weather events have caused billions of euros in damage in recent years. In the ResCentric project, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMI have developed a simulation software that can identify risks associated with construction infrastructure, calculate the likelihood and costs of damage and pinpoint measures to protect property against climate-related risks. The focus is on the resilience of buildings.

Up to now, wood waste has had to be disposed of at great expense and, at best, has been used to generate energy in incineration plants. Fraunhofer researchers are now using this valuable resource to produce biohydrogen in the Black Forest region of Germany. In the joint project H2Wood — BlackForest, fermentation processes using hydrogen-producing bacteria and microalgae have been specially developed for the biotechnological production of this green energy carrier. A pilot plant for the production of biohydrogen is to be commissioned as early as 2025. A study published as part of the project also examines the potentials, barriers and measures for regenerative hydrogen production from waste wood and old wood in the Black Forest region.

Worldwide, consumption of sugar has risen steadily in recent decades even though this food contributes to cavities, high blood pressure and widespread health issues such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In the joint research project NovelSweets, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME have teamed up with partners to use methods derived from biotechnology to produce innovative, protein-based sweeteners. Their goal is to replace sugar and existing sugar alternatives, especially in beverages.

Cyberattacks have become a major risk for companies and other organizations. To prevent data theft, sabotage and extortion, many companies and government agencies are turning in response to Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, which use detection rules, also known as signatures, to identify cyberattacks. However, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE have conducted extensive tests and concluded that it is easy for attackers to evade many signatures like these. AMIDES, a new open source system from Fraunhofer FKIE, is designed to help remedy the situation. It uses AI to identify attacks that traditional signatures miss.

In the VALPEATS project, Fraunhofer researchers are working with project partners to develop a monitoring platform to collect information and evaluate the condition of peatlands. Peatlands are drying out due to conversion to agricultural land and climate change, releasing huge quantities of CO₂ into the atmosphere in the process. The project involves an interdisciplinary team of specialists in the field along with a network of sensors, drones, and AI tools. VALPEATS is laying the groundwork for protecting peatlands and planning rewetting measures.

Culinary foam made from the whites of chicken eggs makes baked goods light and airy. In the LeguFoam project, Fraunhofer researchers are working on a plant-based alternative made from legumes.