4 2 | 1 Fraunhofer: a success story through time Rethinking masonry: Dr. Michael Prokein Harnessing pollution for good “Cutting-edge research is the driver of innovations” Interview with Hendrik Wüst, minister- president and rising star in the CDU party “We need a culture of openness” Siemens CEO Roland Busch CO2

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine Editorial 75 years of innovation By Prof. Holger Hanselka The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft proudly looks back on a 75-year history full of groundbreaking inventions and solutions to complex technological challenges. Since it was first founded, the organization has continued to grow and evolve, reaching many milestones along the way that re- flect its innovative strength and commitment to excellence across all the different fronts of cutting-edge research. Ris- ing from modest beginnings to international recognition as a research organization, Fraunhofer has always been defined by inventive spirit and entrepreneurial actions — just like our namesake, Joseph von Fraunhofer. Countless examples from Fraunhofer’s history have im- proved the lives of many people through innovation. Argu- ably one of the best known is the development of the mp3 audio format. Other impressive examples include the Industrial Data Space for secure exchanges of data in digi- talized industrial environments and innovative technolo- gies for strong and durable bionic components designed using lightweight materials. From the development of new materials and technologies to optimization of industrial processes, Fraunhofer applications revolutionize a wide array of industries. The task for the current generation is to build on this success story and pave the way for future answers to the key questions of our time. Ever since 1973, the Fraunhofer model, an optimal busi- ness model, has made it possible to develop applied re- search with close ties to the needs of industry. The Fraun- hofer model is geared toward business and industry, with equal focus on three areas: (1) industrial revenue, a factor that makes us unique in the German research landscape, (2) public research funding obtained through competi- Prof. Holger Hanselka hofer focuses on key technologies and strengthens ethical value creation for a sustainable and successful future worth living in. Fraunhofer supports the development of new technologies from the initial idea through to market launch, thereby offering its partners solid and customized solutions to give them a crucial competitive edge. The focus of the Fraunhofer model — which centers the needs of industry — is found nowhere else in the German innovation system. It is what makes the Fraunhofer-Ge- sellschaft an essential part of our society. That is why we focus unwaveringly on the needs of business and industry, providing valuable impetus for the evolution of key tech- nologies that help to meet social challenges. This combi- nation of research, industry, and society plays a crucial role in shaping the future, which also makes it highly im- portant to the entire innovation system. The Fraunhofer- Gesellschaft will continue to play a central role in applied research in the years to come by forging ahead with devel- opment of innovative and targeted applications, strength- ening partnerships, and developing sustainable solutions to global challenges. That’s what I stand for as president. It’s what our 32,000 people stand for. And it’s what the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft stands for. tion, and Sincerely, (3) institutional base funding, provided by the German federal and state governments, for strategic pre-com- petitive research. Fraunhofer’s mission is to support German and European industry with new technologies, serving industry and soci- ety as a supplier of innovation. At the same time, Fraun- Prof. Holger Hanselka President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft 3 r e i e m r e b O n a f e t S / r e f o h n u a r F : o t o h P

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine 30 Fraunhofer worldwide 32 The dream of good flight Guilt-free long-distance travel? Hybrid electric aircraft engines are designed to lower fuel consumption and noise 35 Knowledge relay, episode 11 Prof. Lauster, how do we collec- tively arrive at a neutral stance on the best solutions with an eye to current and potential crises? 50 A voice from the business world Dr. Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens AG 52 Taking the fight to cancer Individualized therapy at afford- able prices: Fraunhofer institutes develop more-efficient treatment options 56 Streamlining public transit Can artificial intelligence improve the dependability of local public transit? 58 Biting back against bacteria Good toxins: exploring the healing potential of snake venom 32 Taking off sustainably Otto Lilienthal was an aviation pioneer. Now, Fraunhofer plans to make flying friendlier to the climate. 22 An upswing in construction Fraunhofer WKI plans to use debris to make new building materials — helping Ukraine in the process. 60 The threat of climate change Historic buildings suffer from extreme weather. Researchers at Fraunhofer IBP are working on protective measures 72 Smart shopping at the click of a mouse A study shows that greener online shopping is possible. 74 Save as: DNA Taking the genome as a model — sustainable mass data storage through biologized technology 76 Hugo Geiger Prize Outstanding research by young scientists 82 Photo & Fraunhofer WowWow project: artificial canine skin enables tests without harming animals 63 Cause for celebration — 84 Less stress for plants Fraunhofer at 75 In the service of the future since 1949: messages of support and best wishes from government and indus- try to mark Fraunhofer’s anniversary New sensor technologies aim to ensure better harvests under tough conditions 87 Fraunhofer on the road 64 Fraunhofer research highlights Creating knowledge for industry — a journey through the history of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft 71 Every drop counts Painting without waste? Putting a halt to “overspray” 72 A greener way to browse Fraunhofer researchers studied ways to shrink CO2 emissions from online shopping Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis of water using renewable energy. Germany plans to build ten gigawatts of electrolysis capacity for this purpose by 2030. But that will only be enough to cover 50 percent of the country’s demand for hydrogen at most. The rest would need to be imported. 50 ; r e u e r B s i r o B , f i a l / r e f o H l i e n a D , ) 2 ( n e s s u a C a y a M l : s o t o h p r e v o c k c a b d n a t n o r F k c o t S e b o d A / v o h c a g o D v e L l , a p d h t o b / d e f t e N y a K i l , s e g a m i - g k a , g n i r ö D n e v S , f i a l / r e f o H l i e n a D , l n e s s u a C a y a M : s o t o h p t n e t n o C 5

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine Safety in the skies How safe are lithium-ion batteries inside laptops, smart- phones, or power banks during air travel? Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMI, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP have teamed up with Airbus to find out. If a portable electronic device (PED) gets caught in a seat or overheats while charging, the lithium-ion battery inside it can heat up and expand. In extreme cases, it can give off hot, toxic and flammable gases. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), these kinds of incidents on passenger flights have increased in recent years. In the LOKI-PED project, the team of researchers are working to characterize the biggest risks posed by PEDs. The consequences of smoke and fire in the cockpit and cabin are being investigated at high-performance testing units such as the Flight Test Facility at Fraunhofer IBP and the TEVLIB battery testing center at Fraunhofer EMI. The TEVLIB center offers unique conditions for carrying out destructive tests, even on large battery systems. The experiments serve as a basis for numeric simulations and the subsequent risk assessment. The goal is to draft sci- entifically based recommendations — on topics such as ventilation concepts and certification of suitable safety equipment — for greater safety in air travel. The FAA estimates that overheated batteries cause 35 to 50 incidents a year — and counting. 7 More than 60 percent of all textiles are made from synthetic fibers. L A N A K T H C I L U A L B / H b m G n e d e M i s a t i r e V , o t o h p k c o t s i l l l a / h s a p S h s e r F , o k n e n a m a t a y n e g v e , a v o k h c j i a Z a n e L : s o t o h P Washing machine filter protects the environment Microplastics pose a risk to the environment. The new fibrEX centrifugal filter keeps microscopic synthetic fibers from being released with the used water from washing machines. It was developed by researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT. The versatile, maintenance-free filter separates the fibers that come off textiles during the washing process due to the water involved. Unlike a normal screen system, fibrEX relies on the difference in density between synthetic fibers and water, separating the two components during the spin cycle. This method allows it to capture at least 80 percent of the synthetic fibers present in the water. The new centrifugal filter can be installed in the washing machine itself or operated separately. Another benefit is that it hardly uses any additional energy. Synthetic microfibers from textiles make up any- where from 20 to 35 percent of the microplastic found around the world. That makes them a significant source of microplastics. The fibrEX project is now entering the final phase, following extensive testing. Potential partners are currently being sought for the last steps up to the market launch.

Editorial notes Fraunhofer. The magazine for research, technology and innovation ISSN 1868-3428 (print edition) ISSN 1868-3436 (online edition) Published by: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Hansastrasse 27c, 80686 Munich, Germany Editorial address as above Phone +49 89 1205-1301 magazin@zv.fraunhofer.de https://s.fhg.de/magazine-en Free subscription: Phone +49 89 1205-1301 publikationen@fraunhofer.de Editorial team: Josef Oskar Seitz (responsible for con- tent), Josef Oskar Seitz (editor-in-chief), Dr. Sonja Endres, Beate Strobel Editorial assistants: Dr. Janine van Ackeren, Mandy Bartel, Sirka Henning, Andrea Kaufmann, Manuel Montefalcone, Dr. Monika Offenberger, Franziska Sell, Stefanie Smuda, Mehmet Toprak, Yvonne Weiß Layout and lithography: Vierthaler & Braun Cover image and cover story photography: Maya Claussen Photos for article Referenzfabrik H2: Sven Döring Printed by: Kolibri Druck, Nuremberg © Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft e.V. München 2024 Find Fraunhofer on social media: @Fraunhofer www.facebook.com/ fraunhoferde www.instagram.com/ fraunhofergesellschaft www.linkedin.com/company/ fraunhofer-gesellschaft www.youtube.com/ fraunhofer o t o h p k c o t s i m o r f s o t o h p l l a / e y E d p a R i , v e d e v d e m e i t r a , k z o t e r k i f : s o t o h P 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine A protein keeps common mussels clinging on once they have taken up residence. Clinging like mussels An innovative biomimetic adhesive will keep titanium hip implants in place on the bone for longer. The researchers’ innovative formulation was inspired by a true champion of stickiness: the common mussel. T itanium hip implants lose their hold after a while inside the body, as the bone wears down. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP have been working alongside the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB and the Fraunhofer USA Center for Manufacturing Innovation CMI to develop a tissue adhesive that can help avoid early replacement of prostheses in the future. The antimicrobial material can be 3D printed on the implants, where it bonds to the bone and adheres on its own. The innovative formulation was in- spired by the substance that common mussels use to cling to rocks and the hulls of ships. They are very difficult to remove once in place. This strong bond is due to a protein that contains dihydroxyphenyl- alanine (DOPA), an amino acid. “We have made use of this effective adhesion in our adhesive material by synthesizing poly- mers that contain dopamine, a chemical analog of DOPA,” explains Dr. Wolfdietrich Meyer, a scientist at Fraunhofer IAP. “The dopamine-based adhesive can be mixed with a variety of additives, such as apatite particles (a substance that teeth are com- posed of), proteins and signal molecules. These promote the growth of bone cells and can be used to coat titanium implants, for example.” The special coating allows the implant to appear more “natural” to the body, promoting the healing process and the integration of the implant. The dopamine-based polymers are not just suitable for tissue adhesion: They can also be used for developing functionalized surfaces, antibacterial materials and intel- ligent coatings with special functions. 9

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine Carbon dioxide: turning the problem around Rehabilitating the prime suspect responsible for climate change: More and more technological innovations aim to harness CO2 as a sustainable source of carbon. By Beate Strobel, photography: Maya Claussen O ne part carbon, two parts oxygen: Car- bon dioxide is a fairly simple chemical compound. It also makes up just a tiny fraction of the air we breathe, currently 0.04 percent. But that’s enough to cause big trouble for the entire world. The carbon dioxide in the atmo- sphere can absorb the heat emitted by the earth and reflect it back down to the planet’s surface. Among the various greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide is the prime suspect responsible for climate change. And that’s not even because it has an especially high greenhouse potential — nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, and methane rank much higher than CO2 on that score — but because it is produced in the largest volumes and remains in the atmosphere for a relatively long time. These days, reducing emissions of carbon dioxide is viewed as the single most effective way to combat climate change. But that alone won’t be enough: The amount of unavoidable CO2 emissions from Germany alone is estimated at some 60 million metric tons per year. And yet, the German federal government aims for negative emissions by 2050. How are we supposed to get there? The trick will be to bind more carbon dioxide than is released. As for how to do that, three mechanisms have been proposed. Two of them focus on trapping the carbon emitted: carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture and usage (CCU). The third, car- bon dioxide removal (CDR), takes a different approach. It calls for removing CO2 from the atmosphere and permanently storing it in geological formations or oceanic carbon sinks, in biomass, or in durable prod- ucts, thereby achieving true negative emissions. In terms of developing the technologies needed for this, time is pressing: Megatons of CO2 will need to be separated to reach Germany’s climate targets alone between now and 2030. Capturing carbon dioxide directly from the air The principle of direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS) is geared toward filtering carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. To achieve this, a fan moves the air past a sorbent material that soaks up the CO2. “With the natural concentration of CO2 in the air being so low, capturing this greenhouse gas is associated with very high energy use,” says Dr. Barbara Breitschopf, a project manager at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, who explored the potential of DACCS with her team in a policy brief. So DACCS only makes sense in places where there is an adequate supply of renewable energy. “For ener- gy efficiency reasons, though, we should prioritize capturing CO2 at available point sources,” Breitschopf explains. It is more efficient to capture the gas right where it is emitted than to allow it to escape into the atmosphere first and then spend a lot of energy and money filtering it back out. One of these point sources for CO2 can be the production of hydrogen from or through biomass. This is because H2 is formed not only through 11

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine Holding your breath? Biowaste might not smell very good, but to Sonja Ziehn, an environmen- tal scientist at Fraunhofer IPA, it’s a valuable base material for producing hydrogen and CO2. 13

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine “In the long run, industry will have no choice but to use non-fossil carbon sources.” Dr. Ulrike Junghans, Fraunhofer CBP with a biogas feed-in unit to scale the process and optimize practical operation. Kolb says this technol- ogy offers huge environmental opportunities: “If all of the biogas from the 9,000 or so plants around Germany were fed into the natural gas network in full, it would be enough to cover about 13 percent of Germany’s demand for natural gas — all from purely biogenic sources and with better quality than natural gas derived from fossil sources.” The Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT is using plants as “middlemen” in its work on storing carbon dioxide. After all, plants are known to absorb CO2 from the air and split it via photosyn- thesis. The oxygen released in the process is emitted into the environment, but the carbon remains inside the plant itself, including in the roots. The CO2 is released again when biomass is burned. The KARBO-SELF project at Fraunhofer UMSICHT aims to use a carbonization technology developed at the institute to burn biogenic res- idue while excluding oxygen, with the result that the carbon present in the plants remains bound and stable in the form of plant carbon, acting as a carbon sink. adapted to this process. True, this will not involve long-term storage of CO2 — but as Dr. Ulrike Junghans, a chemist and head of the regenerative resources de- partment at Fraunhofer CBP, points out: “Methanol is an excellent platform chemical, and it serves as a starting material for a whole host of products in the chemical industry and for the transportation sector.” Methanol produced via green methods is not yet com- petitive on price, but Junghans expects that to change soon, as processes grow more efficient and novel catalysts that are more efficient in handling CO2 from industrial point sources are identified. “In the long run, industry will have no choice but to use non-fossil carbon sources,” she says with convic- tion. “And that means carbon capture, whether from the air or at point sources, will be increasingly important going forward.” Right now, there is plenty of CO2 available, but that could change with advances in decarbonization across various industries. So will CO2 be a sought-after commodity one day? Junghans: “I can certain- ly see it happening.” Which, she points out, makes it even more important to implement this source of raw materials as part of a circular economy. Fraunhofer itself is planning to prepare this tech- nology at its own locations and, at the same time, develop a method of certifying the plant carbon products as carbon sinks. There are also plans to study potential roles for plant carbon as additives in con- struction materials or in agriculture. Platform chemicals to store CO2 However, carbon dioxide can also be stored chem- ically. After all, carbon is an essential element of many everyday products. In the e-CO2Met project, coordinated by multi-energy company TotalEnergies, researchers from the Fraunhofer Center for Chemi- cal-Biotechnological Processes CBP are working to convert green hydrogen and carbon dioxide into methanol. For this purpose, plans call to use a pilot plant at Fraunhofer CBP that has been specifically Giving carbon dioxide a helping hand The challenge with carbon dioxide is that the gas is “a really sluggish molecule,” as Dr. Thomas Schiestel, head of the membranes department at Fraunhofer IGB in Stuttgart, puts it. The two oxygen atoms and one carbon atom are slow to release their double bonds so they can form other compounds. “It takes a lot of energy to utilize CO2 effectively,” Schiestel explains. And that very aspect is what makes using carbon dioxide expensive and not very sustainable, at least unless renewable energy is used. To address this, Schiestel is hunting for ways to make recycling CO2 economically viable, either by transferring it into chemicals or products or by using it as an energy sink for volatile renewable energy. The world’s forests store 7.6 billion metric tons of CO2 in their biomass each year. 15

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine Feeding CO2 to microalgae is Dr. Grzegorz Kubik’s biotechnological approach to producing textiles for sneakers at Fraunhofer IGB. 17

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine Developing sustainable fuels based on CO2: Dr. Arne Roth from Fraunhofer IGB is fine-tuning innovative process chains for that purpose. 19

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine to make cement — is burned to produce calcium oxide, carbon dioxide is inevitably produced as well. “That is a huge point source we can use,” Apfel says. Much like in the Carbon2Chem® project, the team here is also working on the use of CO2 from waste gas streams — in this case, to produce synthetic gases (a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) that are then used as basic chemicals for olefins and higher alcohols. “In nature, CO2 isn’t a problem chemical. As a C1 source, it’s a hugely important base material. When The CO2 generated during cement production is contaminated with dust and other potential pollutants, however. How can it be purified at reasonable cost? Or might there even be ways to avoid cleaning it altogether? “To do that, we need catalysts that are highly resistant to contamination,” Apfel ex- plains. Right now, he is focus- ing on sulfide-based catalysts. “They’re really resilient. You can’t contaminate them all that easily.” The first tests of possible process routes have already been concluded, and now a pilot plant is to be com- missioned. “We’ll be able to convert 100 kilograms of CO2 a day with the new plant,” Apfel says. “It’s the world’s first plant on this scale.” Roth is convinced: “If we develop suitable process technologies and combine them in smart ways, we can use carbon dioxide to produce a wide range of chemical products.” He is especially interested in combining CO2 conversion with biotechnology: C1 chemicals like formic acid or methanol generated electrocatalytically from carbon dioxide can be used as fodder for microorganisms that produce higher-val- ue chemicals out of them. Fabarius’s team has already demonstrated these kinds of promising hybrid ap- proaches: In the CELBICON project, for example, the researchers at Fraunhofer IGB managed to harness the synthesizing prowess of bacteria to convert CO2 from the atmosphere into a ter- penoid dye, a type of natural pigment also found in plants and algae. “Microorganisms are sensational chemists,” Roth points out. “Even with- out high temperatures or pressures, they can metabo- lize carbon dioxide into products, some of which are even capable of long-term greenhouse gas storage. We should spend a lot more time looking to nature for exam- ples.” That same idea also fasci- nates Ulf-Peter Apfel, a chem- ist who serves as the head of the electrosynthesis depart- ment at Fraunhofer UMSICHT and a professor at Ruhr Uni- versity Bochum: “In nature, CO2 isn’t a problem chemical. As a C1 source, it’s a hugely important base material. When it comes to using CO2, we have a lot to learn from nature.” That is why Apfel does not talk much about “decarbonizing” industry, preferring the idea of “defos- silization” — reducing the amount of CO2 derived from fossil raw materials. He is working on this in the CO2-Syn project, which was launched in 2022, for example. The project focuses on the cement industry, which accounts for as much as eight percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. And that isn’t likely to change anytime soon, since when calcium carbonate — one of the main ingredients used it comes to using CO2, we have a lot to learn from nature.” Ulf-Peter Apfel, Fraunhofer UMSICHT Worldwide, CO2 emissions rose by 1.1% in 2023, to 36.8 billion metric tons. Apfel is surprised German companies are often still skeptical about the idea of using CO2. “It won’t be long now before industrial process- es are producing less and less carbon dioxide. There will be a lot of money in sustainable C1 point sources,” he predicts. “But for that to occur, we need to invest in the right process- es and systems now.” Looking at the technological advances of the past five years, espe- cially in the area of CCU, he offers another prediction: “I think we’ll have really big plants everywhere by ten years from now.” Germany cannot become car- bon-neutral by 2050 solely by preventing emissions of the greenhouse gas, he notes. A much more diverse approach will be needed: “We have to stick with it and keep looking for new and promising routes to get there.” 21

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine From the ashes Concrete is the most commonly used construction material — and producing it emits as much carbon dioxide as the entire worldwide aviation sector. Rice is the world’s most common food — and its husks have hardly ever been used. Fraunhofer experts have made a connection. The future of construction also holds out hope for rebuilding Ukraine. By Franziska Sell l a p d / d e f t e N y a K i : o t o h P 23

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine heat protection characteristics. In addition, they are easy to process and meet all fire protection specifications. In this way, the project partners’ solutions are expanding the range of available options for cost-efficient building with increas- ingly strict sustainability requirements — for single-family homes and large building complex- es alike. From obstacles to milestones The research project’s success was not a foregone conclusion. Ten days after the project officially kicked off, on March 1, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus a worldwide pandemic — which presented a mas- sive challenge for Yan’s international team. But that wasn’t all. Following extreme rainfall, the German city of Braunschweig faced devastating flooding early that summer. The lab used for performing the experiments for the project was directly affected. The rising waters caused severe damage to the buildings, and the ReMatBuilt project group’s research work there was heavily damaged. “We work with materials that are highly sensitive to moisture, from natural plant fibers to cement and wood. The water destroyed a large portion of our test samples, our experimental set-up — in short, all of the physical work we had done in Braunschweig,” Yan explains. Undaunted, the team forged ahead with the results they had already achieved and are now working on the extended project. Meanwhile, they are keeping their eye on the big picture: “Through our work, we’re opening up interesting econom- ic prospects for the insulation and construction industries and for agriculture and forestry. Beyond that, our partners in the recycling and mechani- cal engineering sectors are developing new meth- ods for optimal production and further processing of plant waste,” Yan says. Hope for Ukraine Yan sees one idea as especially important: “Our work can make a significant contribution to re- building Ukraine,” he points out. “It’s terrible, but huge amounts of rubble are generated there day after day. The country is also rich in natural re- sources and one of the world’s largest exporters of agricultural raw materials, such as grains — wheat, corn and rice.” Against this background, the team is currently hard at work on putting their results into application. Their goal is to provide crucial support to the people of Ukraine in rebuilding quickly, economically, and sustainably. Rubble as raw material Fast, economical, and sustainable rebuild- ing is the goal — Fraunhofer research- ers are helping to accomplish that. a p d h t o b / P A , a d r i h G m d a V i , s s e r P A M U Z / o k n e y i r d n A y i r d n A : s o t o h P 25

Let’s talk about the future. What qualities does the next German chancellor need to have to lead Germany out of the multiple crises it is currently facing? A rational mind, determination, and strong leader- ship. They also have to keep their promises. There are too many examples in which the sitting chancellor has been slow to act or hasn’t shown the necessary political will — take the pact aimed at accelerating planning and approval procedures, for example, or the power plant strategy. The biggest political chal- lenge facing us right now, migration, is also being ap- proached much too timidly. Current studies show all our officeholders that many people in Germany have lost trust in the state and its ability to get things done. I’m sure the ongoing squabbling within the German federal government hasn’t helped. Let’s turn to the present, then. Is it worth asking whether you would be interested in running for chancellor as a CDU candidate in 2025? People can always ask. I see. It’s tough. Let’s talk specifics. Here’s a question for you as a lawyer: Can you put together an argument for Germany as an industrial hub in three sentences? Germany is distinguished by a highly innovative economy, top-notch research landscapes, and a strong industrial base. With its central location in Eu- rope, it offers companies incomparable access to the markets in the EU, reinforced by a robust legal system that protects and fosters investment and innovation, and a well-educated populace. To continue to play to these strengths in the future, we need a fast-acting growth program that includes tax reform, cutting red tape, action to counteract the shortage of skilled workers, and lower energy costs. Are growth and climate action contradictory? We need to show that we can both protect the cli- mate and unleash economic growth. That forms the basis for well-paying jobs, prosperity, and a stable society. That’s the only way we will be able to protect our climate effectively in the long term. Otherwise, we won’t have the buy-in we need for climate ac- tion — not just here in Germany, but worldwide. We can’t convince other countries that climate action is needed unless we also show that we can stay strong, economically and industrially. What we need for that is a political framework that drives innovation in climate action and attracts investment in clean technologies. 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine “Providing targeted support for research and development is crucial.” Hendrik Wüst Those two aspects overlap in your state. You have big chemical, steel, and coal industries. And you’re in a coalition government with the Green party. How are you navigating that? North Rhine-Westphalia has set out to be the first climate-neutral industrial state in Europe — and we're making good progress. In Duisburg, for ex- ample, there are plans to produce green steel with hydrogen instead of coke in the future. At the state government level, we supported this investment with the biggest single grant in our state’s history to show how growth and climate action can be reconciled with an eye to the future and long value chains can be kept right here in-state. Where does the research sector fit in? It has a very important role to play. Cutting-edge research is the driver of the innovation we need to overcome key challenges — whether that’s the energy transition, the digital transformation, or, in medicine, the fight against widespread diseases like cancer and dementia. What can be done to bolster the research sector? We’re making sure there are dependable overall conditions and investing in our higher education and research institutions so research can proceed freely, and we remain attractive as a location of cut- ting-edge research. And we’re especially cultivat- ing interdisciplinary networks, like EIN Quantum NRW and KI.NRW [Editor’s note: central organiza- tions focusing on quantum technologies and artifi- cial intelligence, respectively]. 27 ) 3 ( f i a l / r e f o H l i e n a D : s o t o h P

“Are real solutions the best way to defang popu- lism?” — “Yes.” Hendrik Wüst Rhine-Westphalia — and we’re pushing ahead with it. What areas of focus in research activity would you fight for in a German federal gov- ernment led by the CDU? From North Rhine-Westphalia to the federal level, innovation is one of the pillars of an econ- omy and society that is viable for the future. Research policy should be geared toward that, regardless of the political level. You’ve called the AfD party your main political opposition. Aren’t real solutions for people’s anxieties about the future the best way to defang populism? Yes. Truly robust solutions to problems can only be found in the democratic center. But they also have to be tackled. In recent weeks, we’ve also seen huge public opposition to the AfD, to right- wing extremism, and huge public support for cohesion across our society and for democracy. That shows that the AfD doesn’t speak for a si- lent majority, as it has always claimed. We need to face down the AfD on the issues and take clear positions. Above all, that means showing people what consequences and impact AfD pol- icies would have in terms of their daily lives — for workers, for example, or the social safety net. When you dig a little deeper, you can see that the AfD poses a risk to our prosperity and democracy. We can see that just from their calls for Germany to leave the European Union. You became a parent late in life, if you’ll excuse the term, at 45. Has having a child changed your view of the future? Being a parent does change your personal view of the world, of course. There are new roles and responsibilities involved, which I enjoy. Each and every day, my daughter Philippa is a living reminder of what our decisions mean for the fu- ture. And that includes asking what we can do today to make the possibilities even better for those who will live in the world of tomorrow. Life expectancy for today’s babies and toddlers is longer than the German republic has been in existence today. That’s humbling, for one thing. But it’s also a call to action. We need to take ad- vantage of every opportunity to lay the founda- tions for all of today’s children to be able to lead a good life in every possible way. Are you confident when you think about the country where Philippa will grow up? As far as North Rhine-Westphalia is concerned, we have excellent chances of solving the big challenges facing us today. As for me personal- ly, I’m doing my best, taking it one day at a time. 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine Not a hair out of place Dieter Schlebes from the town of Rhede has been cutting the head of state’s hair for more than 30 years now: “He wants to make sure he looks good.” Work-life balance May 14, 2022 — Election Day: Wüst and his wife, Katharina, head to the polls with daughter Philippa. Frunning for fancellor? Shown here with actress Annette Frier in 2023, Wüst stumbles while reading aloud. The children’s book Der Fönig is challenge — ev- ery K is replaced with an F. Maybe he should run for chancellor instead? A backhanded compliment In March 2024, Wüst praises CDU party chair Friedrich Merz, saying he is “a marvelous opposition leader.” The race for the chancellorship is on. 29 s e g a m i o g a m i / s e c i v r e S o t o h P e k n u F / h c i r d e H s r a L i , s e g a m i - o g a m i / t d r a H h p o t s i r h C , a p d / t d r a H h p o t s i r h C , ) 2 ( a p d / d n r e b n e n n e V f l o R , n a l i B s n e m e C l , k o o b e c a F @ t s ü W k i r d n e H , ) 2 ( m a r g a t s n @ I t s ü W k i r d n e H : s o t o h P

There is no need to clear rain forest to grow macauba palms. BRAZIL Sustainable palm oil To advance efforts toward sustainable production of vegetable oil, protein, and fiber, the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV is working with its Brazilian branch lab in Campinas on ways to use the whole fruit of the macauba palm tree. This tropical plant does not re- quire much water, so it supplies large amounts of oil even in dry regions. An innovative fractionation technology developed by Fraunhofer IVV in coop- eration with Brazilian partners has now made it possible to separate the raw materials present in the macauba fruit into high-quality oils, fibers, and proteins, thereby tapping into the pre- viously unused potential offered by the residue left over after pressing and oil extraction. The utilization con- cept unlocks a variety of different ap- plications in fields such as the food and cosmetics industries and in pro- duction of biodegradable packaging. The palm tree also significantly en- hances soil fertility, which means the space between the palms is more pro- ductive in growing grass for livestock grazing or even crops such as soy or coffee beans. The partners in Fraun- hofer spin-off Macauba Ingredients GmbH are currently looking for part- ners to build a production facility in Brazil. B G I r e f o h n u a r F , l l y m a A / n o c r a A s n e b u R / s e g a m i s u i t i r u a m , ) 3 ( o t o h p k c o t s i l l i a / o n N E o c i N l , z s y b y z r p t r e b o r , l a m t e P : s o t o h P ESTONIA Biomass as a substitute for coal and natural gas method of using biological residue such as wood and hay for material and energy. The biomass is first dried in an atmosphere consisting of superheated water vapor without oxygen and then torrefied, meaning it is broken down thermochemically. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are reclaimed as condensate during the process, so the valuable “green chemicals” from the biomass are retained for further pro- cessing. The torrefied biomass, a kind of bio-coal, can be shaped into pellets or ground into dust and used as a sub- stitute for coal or natural gas as a way to operate power plants on a climate- neutral basis. The unit can process up to 150 kilograms of bio-residue per hour. The method has now been im- plemented commercially for the first time in a large technical pilot plant. Torrefied beechwood (right) has greater fuel value than untreated wood of the same kind (left). The Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB and New Standard Oil, an Estonian start-up, are working to make plant- based biomass usable as a climate- friendly alternative to fossil fuels. To achieve this, the Fraunhofer research- ers have devised an energy-efficient 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine FRANCE Climate research with diamonds One important piece of the puzzle when researching global warming is how much heat the earth radiates into space. Researchers from the Fraun- hofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF and the In- stitute of Applied Physics at the Uni- versity of Jena have now developed an innovative diamond structure for a sat- ellite spectrometer of the European Space Agency (ESA), which is based in Paris, to enable precise measurements of this heat radiation in the extreme far infrared range for the first time. The diamond surface is about the size of a credit card. It acts as a beam split- ter for the spectrometer, which is to be used for precise analysis of the earth’s radiation levels starting in 2027. The challenge was to make one surface of the diamond antireflective on a broad spectrum without adversely affecting the infrared range. Inspired by the cone-shaped surface structure of moth eyes, the scientists developed a special method that relies on reactive ions, in which microscopic pyramids are etched into the diamond’s surface. Diamonds are chemically resistant, and as one of the hardest materials in the world, they are difficult to structure. On top of that, the far infrared range requires pyramids with extremely pre- cise forms. How much heat radiates from the earth into space? A new satellite spectrometer aims to find out. 31

E cofriendly aviation? When it comes to passenger aircraft, Air- bus is betting on hydrogen. The group plans to launch the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial airliner in 2035. On their own, electric batteries have only been able to keep smaller aircraft aloft for short trips so far. Hybrid electric drives are the next big hope. Combining an electric drive and a gas turbine goes something like this: A traditional engine like the ones typically found under the wings today is in the body of the aircraft. It powers a generator that produces electricity, which is then stored in a battery — and used to drive the rotors under the wings via electric motors. Sounds like a roundabout solution? It actually isn’t. The approach might seem com- plicated, but there are good reasons to do it this way. One key advantage is fuel economy. Right now, the pilot typically pushes the engine well beyond the “design point,” the point where it was designed for optimum performance, during take-off. Six metric tons — 6,000 liters — of jet fuel have already been used up before the wheels on an A380 leave the ground. An aircraft doesn’t reach its optimum fuel econ- omy until it is in the air. “Having a battery as a power buffer in between means you don’t have to use the engine’s full energy every time you take off. Instead, you can run the engine at the design point the whole time,” explains Dr.-Ing. Christoph Hubig, who works in the sustainable aviation business unit development at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU. “It’s like if you were to drive about a steady 80 miles per hour on the freeway, which also uses much less gas than stop-and-go traffic on city streets.” A premiere for Rolls-Royce But first, the engine that can do all this needs to be developed, certified, and brought to market. Under the leadership of Rolls-Royce Germany, Fraunhofer IWU, the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufac- turing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP, Brandenburg Universi- ty of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), y n a m r e G e c y o R - s l l o R , a p d / s e g a m i - g k a : s o t o h P Achieving ecofriendly lift-off: rendering of a hybrid electric aircraft “All these drives share a few things. They’re quiet, operate at low temperatures, and have zero emissions.” Dr. Christoph Hubig, Fraunhofer IWU 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine and the Center for Hybrid Electric Systems Cottbus (chesco) are working with other part- ners to make this a reality. For Rolls-Royce, which has thus far been known in the aviation sector primarily for its gas turbines, these are the first attempts to electrify aircraft engines. At the same time, the project also aims to help achieve structural transformation in Germa- ny’s Lusatia region, as the state-level funding is earmarked specifically for efforts toward structural transformation by phasing out coal. The underlying idea is to transfer knowledge to Lusatia to create highly qualified jobs there. The IWS, IFAM, and IWU have founded a new establishment in Cottbus as part of these ef- forts, with shared offices on the BTU campus right near chesco as the nucleus. Electric drive meets turbine Hybrid electric aviation is flexible. “How, exactly, the engines are designed depends on what they are supposed to do,” Hubig ex- plains. “The researchers are developing a mod- ular system of electrified drives that can be combined together in various ways. All these drives do share a few things. They’re quiet, operate at low temperatures, and have zero emissions.” A single battery supplies enough energy for urban flights, while ranges of 80 to 100 kilometers or more require the addition of conventional drives such as a centrifugal com- pressor gas turbine powered with jet fuel or other fuels. “Depending on the requirements, we can configure the drive and energy source freely,” Hubig says. One major plus to these kinds of drives is their low noise. “An electric motor generates very high torque. That means you can design the rotor blades to be larger, so they don’t turn as fast — which means they make less noise,” explains Dr. Uwe Frieß, head of the department responsible for car body construction, assem- bly and disassembly at Fraunhofer IWU in Chemnitz. “Since the engine is encapsulated in the body, it also creates a smaller noise footprint.” One other important aspect is that con- ventional aircraft always have two engines. That means each one has to be smaller, which makes it less efficient. If only one engine is needed, it can be designed to be larger, 33

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine Knowledge relay Prof. Lauster, how do we collectively arrive at a neutral stance on the best solutions with an eye to current and potential crises? 35

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine Knowledge relay Prof. Lauster, how do we collectively arrive at a neutral stance on the best solutions with an eye to current and potential crises? 35

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine 2. A less reality-based concept is that of truth by coherence: A proposition is true if it fits into an existing system of propositions without any contradiction. This is a view familiar from the hu- manities, and especially from mathe- matics. We justify these propositions through appropriate methods of argu- mentation and presentation of evidence, and we believe in them as long as all evidence to the contrary fails. In this concept, there is no need for correlates in physical reality, but they can often be found by analogy and are not det- rimental when they are found. 3. The most problematic concept of truth, which is the farthest removed from science and, in my view, should always be fought, is that of truth by consensus: If a sufficiently large number of people believe in a certain proposition, then it becomes true. These propositions are often justified by ignoring or de- nying facts or through conspiracy theories and pseudoscientific argu- ments. A connection to physical real- ity tends to be detrimental to this form of truth, and it is often also prevented through violence. All of the world’s religions, sects, ideologies, and dog- matic systems are based on this con- ception of truth. This is why finding optimal solutions and assessing them objectively and inde- pendently between different people is a task that requires the scientific method. Karl Popper’s critical rationalism is the best means we have so far of distinguishing truthful statements from beliefs and dog- ma. We need to work together to uphold our scientific standards and raise the next generation in the same spirit. But science does not serve only to create knowledge. It also shows us that what we think we know is just a tiny island in an ocean of ignorance. It teaches us humility by showing us that every answer to a question opens up a universe of new questions. And it teaches us that our knowledge is only provisional and can be modified by new discoveries at any time or even carried on ad absurdum. In the next issue: Fresh starts and sweeping change: How will AI change our world? 37 Prof. Michael Lauster has been in charge of the Fraunhofer Institute for Techno- logical Trend Analysis INT in Euskirchen, near Bonn, since September 2012. But science does not serve only to create knowledge. It also shows us that what we think we know is just a tiny island in an ocean of ignorance. T N I r e f o h n u a r F : : o s t o o t h o P F

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine Turbocharging hydrogen Climate change is proceeding faster than expected, the energy transition more slowly than had been hoped. Referenzfabrik.H2 aims to accelerate the production of hydrogen systems and open up new business fields for industries such as the automotive sector, in a push Fraunhofer is calling “Fit4H2.” By Beate Strobel, photography: Sven Döring How do we take the hydrogen sector to the next level? That’s a key question for Dr. Ulrike Beyer, head of Referenzfabrik.H2 at Fraunhofer IWU. 39

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine Keeping things rolling: Stefan Lohberger, a technician at Fraunhofer IWU in Chemnitz, is involved in the development of a hydrogen motorcycle. 41

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine What can be done to accelerate production of fuel cell stacks? Dr. Andreas Willert, Fraunhofer ENAS, is working at the pilot plant at Fraunhofer IWU to figure that out. 43

expected for 2030 will have to be met through imports. That is, unless domestic production can pick up the pace. Predictions like these are a clear “sig- nal to get into this market,” Beyer tells the participants, who are diligently taking notes. After all, she notes, there will soon be “a huge shortfall of production technol- ogies,” by which she means the electrolyz- ers and fuel cells needed to meet future demand. Beyer points to the many start-ups springing up in the H2 technology segment as another sign of this market’s future viability: “We’re in the early days of pro- duction development.” The Fraunhofer hydrogen network believes annual value creation for German manufacturers of electrolyzers and fuel cells could come to 10 billion euros in 2030 and 32 billion in 2050. To tie in with that theme, the message printed on the packs of candy each of the Fit4H2 participants found waiting at their spot is a simple one: “Fueling your value creation.” “To 20 by 27” is Referenzfabrik. H2’s motto: The goal is to lower production costs for hydrogen systems to 20 percent of present-day costs by 2027, making hy- drogen technology from Germany com- petitive. “This could be a way for us to recapture some of the value creation we lost with battery power,” Beyer says. “To 20 by 27” is an ambitious goal, but in light of global competition, an aspira- tional vision is what counts. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy has launched what it calls its “Hydrogen Shot” program for the United States, aiming to reduce “To 20 in 27” is the motto of Referenzfabrik.H2 How can production of bipolar plates (BPPs) be made more efficient? Sebastian Melzer pursues this topic at the pilot plant at Fraunhofer IWU. 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine 45

to create a kind of technology kit by putting together building blocks for the production of electrolyzers and fuel cells and offering them for knowledge transfer purposes. A “technology mall” provides key stack components on a modular ba- sis. And technology services provided by Fraunhofer researchers will help partner companies incorporate existing expertise and infrastructures into hydrogen system production. There are even already plans for the H2 specialists of tomorrow: Referenzfabrik. H2 is the German sponsor of the H2 Grand Prix, which was launched by Horizon Educational, a Czech company. The series invites elementary and secondary school students to work in teams to develop lightning-fast miniature hydrogen-pow- ered vehicles and compete against each other, first nationally and then in inter- national competitions. Last year’s contest was limited to Saxony, but as Katrin Zieger, who is responsible for strategic communication at Referenzfabrik.H2, notes, “Our stated goal is to roll out the Grand Prix program all across Germany.” After all, it’s never too early to get the specialists of tomorrow on board with the idea of “Fit4H2.” Business, industry, and the science and research sectors join forces to ramp up the use of hydrogen technologies. — Fraunhofer Hydrogen Network: For more information on hydrogen technologies, visit www.wasserstoff.fraunhofer.de 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine What does industry need in order to make the leap into the hydrogen era? Referenzfabrik.H2 offers a modular toolkit. 47

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine 55 million metric tons of CO2 per year is produced by the German steel industry alone. That’s about 28 % of all CO2-emissions generated by the entire German industrial sector. Hydrogen makes climate-friendly steel smelting possible. 49

I introduced Danny at this year’s Siemens general meeting. Al- though Danny is artificial, it acts extremely intelligent. I can talk to the AI like I would to a person, and it can answer me the same way. Danny is still in training, but the AI will soon have in-depth knowledge of industrial technologies. And when it comes to programming robots, Danny has skills equivalent to those of our top experts. It is living proof — or perhaps I should say human-created proof — of how generative AI will change the world. AI unlocks greater work productivity and accelerates innovation, and it can also sup- port us with sustainability. It helps address the shortage of skilled workers. And it is a huge factor we can harness for sustainable economic growth and competitiveness by revolutionizing entire industries and rein- vigorating national economies. It is the big opportunity of our time. And Germany can be the nucleus for generative AI in industry — industrial AI. How will we do that? Three answers. First: Germany is home to many world- class ecosystems, such as automotive, chem- icals, pharma, manufacturing, and univer- sally relevant, machine building — all with strong ties to the scientific community. Successful ecosystems require one thing above all: creative, engaged people. And that also includes people who come to Germany and want to contribute their skills, so we need a wise immigration policy, paired with a culture of inclusion and openness. In Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlan- gen-Nürnberg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKS, we have a strong ecosystem for accelerating the digital trans- formation of train systems. Together, we are using AI to develop driverless trains (see pp. 56/57). We use AI for companies such as Heineken and Northvolt, conserving energy during the beer brewing process and opti- mizing production at battery gigafactories. And where some people see competitors, we see partners. We work with NVIDIA to create photorealistic visualizations for the industrial metaverse. Together with Amazon Web Services, we make it easier to incorpo- rate AI into apps. And we’ve joined forces a z t i p a K o n n E : o t o h P “AI will unlock greater work productivity and accelerate innovation.” Dr. Roland Busch has been the CEO of Siemens AG since 2021. The company has about 320,000 employees across 190 countries and posted sales of 77.8 billion euros in 2023. has worked in many areas over his three decades at Siemens, from automotive technology to the internet of things. He joined the managing board in 2011 and became the deputy CEO and labor director in 2019. joined Siemens in 1994 in the role of project head within the corporate research and develop- ment department. He has said he joined the company out of a belief “that technology can solve the world’s biggest challenges.” was born in Erlangen in 1964. He studied physics at Friedrich-Alexander- Universität Erlangen- Nürnberg (FAU) and the University of Grenoble before completing his doctorate at FAU in 1993. 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine with Microsoft to develop the Siemens In- dustrial Copilot, which makes human-ma- chine interactions faster and more intuitive than ever before. This industrial copilot is what we named Danny. Schaeffler is the first customer to use it in the real world. Second: At Siemens, we have years of expertise in using AI for our customers. And since the release of ChatGPT, we’ve touched off a wave of ideas and projects in our re- search and development department — in- cluding Danny. Our entire experience tells us that humans will not be replaced by AI. Humans will be replaced by other humans who use AI. That’s why continuing education is so important. We already have about 1,500 proven AI experts at Siemens today. And 40,000 of our colleagues attended AI train- ing in 2023. Third: The EU’s planned AI regulation definitely has good intentions, but it might impede AI-based business models. There are similar risks with the EU data regulation and taxonomy regulation. None of these regulations are wrong in principle, but taken as a whole, and especially in the fine print, they may jeopardize innovation at a time when innovation is more important than ever. They are slowing things down at a time when speed is crucial to our compet- itiveness. But I am a firm believer in our country’s innovative strength. That’s one of the reasons Siemens is investing a billion euros in Ger- many’s future, in spite of slow growth and an increasing trend toward investing in other countries. We are using the funds to create a high- tech campus in Erlangen as a blueprint for the industrial metaverse. We’re combining the real and digital worlds to create an im- mersive space — a virtual world almost indistinguishable from the real one. AI engineers and their human colleagues can work together in real time there to solve the biggest challenges of our time. I see AI as a factor we can harness for growth. It also offers us chances to do good. If we promote open ecosystems and a posi- tive basic attitude and find a reasonable approach to regulation, we can harness AI to make great strides. 51

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine “The vision is to drive costs down to a five-digit amount — and maybe even to a tenth of what they are now.” Dr. Ulrich Blache, Fraunhofer IZI Little amounts of individual cells have to be cultured in a cleanroom setting for weeks for each patient. The Fraunhofer team is taking a different tack, instead using messenger RNA (mRNA) — short, sin- gle-strand messenger molecules. “The mRNA carries the blueprint for producing the receptors for that specific type of cancer inside the T cells. That means it has to be different for breast cancer than for leukemia or lymphoma,” Blache explains. There are various advantages to using mRNA instead of viral vectors to “arm” the cells. For one thing, mRNA is less costly as a starting material than viral vectors — although this is not ex- 53 A scattershot approach used to be the standard way to treat cancer. These days, there are individualized treat- ments that can fight back. But these treatments, which cost upward of 250,000 euros, are currently only approved for patients who have not responded to chemotherapy or radiation — right now, for certain forms of leukemia and lym- phoma. Essentially, the process works like this: Blood samples are taken from the cancer patient and used to isolate immune cells. Those cells are then genetically engineered and reintroduced to the body, where they are then able to attack the cancer cells. The success rate is high, with one in two patients — who have had no success with conventional treatments — responding favorably to these forms of treatment. vision is to drive costs down to a five-digit amount — and maybe even to a tenth of what they are now,” Blache says. For comparison, the costs of even conventional cancer therapy add up to five- or six-digit figures over the months and years involved. In the long run, the new treatment could thus not only be more successful, but also less costly. “One key aspect here will be the automation of the manufacturing process and the complete digitalization of quality control,” adds Rolf Hendrik van Lengen, Program Manager Digital Healthcare at Fraunhofer IESE. Cancer therapy: mRNA instead of viral vectors With this vision firmly in their sights, the re- searchers are turning the production process in a whole new direction. In the previous method, a certain kind of immune cells known as T cells are taken from a sample of the patient’s blood, then cultured and genetically modified. This modification causes the immune cells to be equipped with a receptor. “You can think of the receptor like a key that specifically fits certain molecules on the surface of the cancer cells — the lock. Putting the key in the lock starts the process of destroying the cancer cell,” Blache explains. Pharmaceu- tical manufacturers use viral vectors to insert the molecular weapon into the cells of the sample through the protective cell membrane. “A dramatically lower price would help make these treatments available to patients at early stages of cancer, too,” says Dr. Ulrich Blache, a group manager at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Ther- apy and Immunology IZI. “It’s also important to increase availability. It simply has to be possible to produce enough of these therapies to be able to help a large number of patients,” he continues. High price and low availability have both dogged the new methods so far. Little amounts of the cells have to be cultured in a cleanroom setting for weeks for each individual patient. The treatment is useless to others, as their immune systems would reject the foreign cells. Fraunhofer researchers are tackling both challenges as part of Fraunhofer’s RNAuto flag- ship project. Coordinated by Fraunhofer IZI, the project also involves the following Fraunhofer institutes: The Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Ex- perimental Medicine ITEM, the Fraunhofer Insti- tute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technol- ogy IPT, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufactur- ing Engineering and Automation IPA, the Fraun- hofer Institute for M icroengineering and Microsystems IMM, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS. “The I Z I r e f o h n u a r F : o t o h p ; y r a r b i L o t o h P e c n e i c S / n o n r e V m T : i n o i t a r t s u l l I

Fraunhofer ITEM, where the researchers work in tandem with colleagues from Fraunhofer IZI on good manufacturing practice (GMP). “One of our primary goals is to scale production of mRNA to the volumes needed for a safe and reliable phar- maceutical process,” Blache explains. The project’s targets also include encapsulation the mRNA. If the mRNA vaccine were injected directly into the body, it would break down im- mediately. “Encapsulating the mRNA is a key factor,” van Lengen points out. This task is handled by a screening unit operated by Fraunhofer IESE, IPT, and IMM. Tiny globules of fatty acids known as lipids are used as the encapsulation material. They carry the genetic cargo inside them to the destination. However, a COVID vaccine requires a different lipid composition than a vaccine for West Nile virus, and the same is true of cancer therapies. How successful the encapsulation is depends not only on the length and structure of the mRNA itself, but also on the size, viscosity, and charge of the lipid and on machine settings such as pressure, flow rates, and temperature. Scaling up to industrial levels What the optimum encapsulation for a certain kind of mRNA is like and what encapsulation parameters are needed will be determined in the future by a screening unit — for volumes up to industrial levels. “Not only does it automatically pack the mRNA into the lipid globules, but it also handles quality control and stores all the infor- mation in the digital twin,” van Lengen explains. The encapsulation process itself is a self-assembly. Biochemical reactions cause the mRNA to encap- sulate itself inside the globules largely automati- cally. To get the process going, two liquids — one containing mRNA, the other lipids — are mixed together using two pumps and a micro-mixer. Even though the process is self-organized, it is anything but simple. The design and construction of the micro-mixer already raise many questions: How can the tiny lipid structures be designed to be as smooth as possible, so the globules do not tear back open? How can the micro-mixer be cleaned? Quality control without losses One of the unit’s special features lies in quality control. During production of the COVID-19 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine vaccine, it was always necessary to take a sample and then analyze it in a lab setting, which is prob- lematic with small production batches. But now, the product can be analyzed during production using methods such as dynamic light scattering, all without destroying it. The idea is that it will be possible to use various filtering methods to immediately remove any globules that are too small or too large, along with those that do not contain enough mRNA. Documentation is also automatic, thanks to digital process control. “Based on real-time measurements with sensors such as those from Fraunhofer IMM, we use the control software COPE developed at Fraunhofer IPT and the Eclipse BaSyx open-source software solution developed at Fraunhofer IESE to supply data to a digital twin,” van Lengen says. “So, we always know which manufacturing parameters were in place at what time and can optimize the process by comparing the quality and parameters. By doing this, we’re translating Industry 4.0 to pharmaceutical manufacturing — Pharma 4.0, if you like — which is completely uncharted territo- ry.” Once the unit is complete, the mRNA for West Nile virus will be packed automatically and then tested for efficacy at Fraunhofer IZI. The timeline calls for Fraunhofer to extend access to the unit to industry partners in late 2025. Automation in the production process and digitalization in quality control hold promise for scaling the new treatments up to industrial levels. 55 E S E I r e f o h n u a r F y b d e t i d e ; a n i l o m m s i u l ; z e e r g a e D ; i a d e m i . r e b e r h c s r e t e p ; f f o k n e d o r o g / m o c . k c o t S i , E S E I r e f o h n u a r F : s o t o h P

No operators at all: the U2 and U3 lines in Nuremberg. They travel on a 100-second cycle — twice as fast as with manual controls. challenges. And then we can check wheth- er the system recognizes everything cor- rectly,” Weiss says. Trains have great potential Does that mean resilience in the face of strikes? Even amid all these advances, there will be no replacing train operators for now. They are responsible for running the train, but also perform other tasks, such as checking the overhead lines for problems and identifying and eliminat- ing issues affecting the train itself. Aside from that, the infrastructure needed for autonomous trains is not yet in place. One fundamental requirement for fully automated train operation is that the rail lines will need to be equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS). This system uses sensors to monitor factors such as train speed and position, checks to ensure that the tracks are clear, and automatically clears trains to proceed. According to Deutsche Bahn AG, about 500 kilometers of railway was equipped with the ECTS as of 2023, including the rapid line between Munich and Berlin. That works out to 1.6 percent of the overall network. But Weiß is confident that the system’s expansion will pick up steam quickly at this point: “If you want to cut carbon emissions, you simply have to shift more traffic to trains.” He also notes that it would be easy to make the switch first on sections of the network that are already equipped with the ETCS and feature good conditions. “There’s much greater poten- tial for trains, which have to move along pre-established routes, than there is for autonomous vehicles in urban settings. It’s just that trains haven’t attracted as much attention yet, unfortunately.” Nicole Wagner-Hanl also aims to har- ness AI to make public transit a more appealing option. Wagner-Hanl has a background in business administration with a focus on business informatics. She 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine currently works as a project manager specializing in passenger mobility and digital transformation at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML, in the Prien am Chiemsee office. In the KI4autoBUS pilot project, which con- cluded in December 2023, she and her team managed to control autonomous DB Regio shuttle bus traffic in Bad Birnbach, a mar- ket municipality in Germany’s Lower Bavaria region, with significantly greater efficiency. The vehicles have been operat- ing in municipality on a trial basis for eight years now, providing both regularly sched- uled service and on-demand trips request- ed by phone or app. Wagner-Hanl and her team feed the booking information into a self-learning AI. “This has let us predict travelers’ needs, optimize the routes, shorten wait times, and improve ridership.” After a while, the AI even knew where service would be needed — so the shuttle was waiting at the stop even before the request came in. Wagner-Hanl firmly believes on-de- mand transport is a great opportunity to better connect remote locations and com- munities to public transport again. Instead of running large regularly scheduled buses through the area twice a day with almost no riders, shuttles or shared taxis can be used for these trips on demand. “The district of Rottal-Inn is one of the districts with the most scattered settlements in Germany. Running traditional bus service here is really expensive. On-demand transportation systems are a low-cost, efficient alternative,” she explains. And vehicle size isn’t the only thing that could be adjusted flexibly. So could the vehicle features themselves. Do passengers need a smart wheelchair ramp that extends automatically, or audio information for the visually impaired? That and more could be requested and taken into account ahead of time. “And then, looking down the road, if we had autonomous shuttles that travel without drivers, unlike today, the person- nel costs would also be lower.” As for Bad Birnbach residents and tourists, they love riding with AI. “Some of them even come to town just to see the autonomous shut- tles,” Wagner-Hanl says. 57 g r e b m e r u N f o y t i C / r e u a b d e h c S f l l a R : o t o h P

W henever others shudder, Dr. Tim Lüddecke knows he has good reason to take a closer look — especially where creepy, crawly creatures are involved. Lüddecke, a scientist at the Giessen office of the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, studies the biochemical composition of animal toxins and their possible uses. He has been able to isolate new biomolecules that may help in treating mul- tidrug-resistant organisms or be useful as crop protectants from the toxins secreted by spiders, ants, and bees. But the subject of his latest research project is more of a mystery. It lives only on a scant few islands in the Cyclades archipelago of Greece, especially the island of Milos. The Milos viper, as it is known, is one of Europe’s few venomous snakes. With venom significantly less toxic than that of their tropical cousins, they have also been the subject of much less research. Estimates put the number of fatal- ities due to snakebite at over 100,000 a year worldwide, but very few of those occur in Europe. Com- plications are not uncommon, however. Lüddecke and his team sourced their Milos viper toxin from a snake farm. “What really makes these animals special is that they have adapted to a very narrow ecosys- tem, so their range of prey is real- ly focused on birds,” explains Lüddecke, who is also the head of the Animal Venomics junior re- search group at Fraunhofer IME. “We now know that changes in prey frequently correlate with changes in toxin composition. So we were interested in whether this kind of effect can be observed in the Milos viper.” Since the snake is a close relative of Macrovipera lebetinus, the blunt-nosed or Levant viper — arguably Europe’s most dangerous ven- omous snake — the team also studied whether its venom can do similar damage. Poisons cooked up by nature Snake venom consists of about a hundred com- ponents — a highly complex mixture of enzymes, proteins, and toxins that work in various ways to paralyze or kill prey and facilitate digestion. Most of these components are present in tiny amounts. The main ones fall within four to five families of toxins. Each snake species has a unique toxic effect. The researchers at Fraunhofer IME used state-of-the-art mass spectrometry to identify the composition of the Milos viper’s venom for the first time. “There are two challenges here. The first is that we have to be really careful due the toxic nature of these substances, and the sec- ond is that dissolved snake venom breaks down quickly,” Lüddecke says, providing a window on his work. “So we store venom as a solid and then dissolve it in water at the desired concentration for analysis purposes. But the experiments have to be scheduled close together, since the results could be distorted otherwise.” Active ingredients to fight infection In studies performed as part of a research project at the LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodi- versity Genomics, the Fraunhofer team showed that the Milos viper’s venom cocktail is almost identi- cal to that of various blunt-nosed viper subspecies. That is also why its potency is comparable. In addition to identifying the components, the research group focused on characterizing them in functional terms: “We have iden- tified several toxins that belong to protein classes known for having an antibacterial effect. So we may be able to use them to develop new lead molecules as candidates for drugs to fight infectious diseases,” Lüddecke explains. Initial activity studies on the toxin confirm that it is highly effective against a number of medically relevant types of bacteria. The researchers’ next objective is to isolate these components and further develop them. But even beyond that, the many poisons cooked up by nature offer a wealth of untapped potential — and right in our own backyard, no less: As their next step, Lüddecke and his team have set their sights on largely unresearched species that live in Germany, such as the common European adder (Vipera berus) and the European asp (Vipera aspis). Each snake species has a unique toxic effect. R B - E M I r e f o h n u a r F , i d m h c S t r a n n e L : s o t o h P 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine “We have identified several toxins that belong to protein classes known for having an antibacterial effect.” Dr. Tim Lüddecke, Fraunhofer IME 59

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine “We have to protect our cultural heritage better against extreme weather events in the future.” Prof. Ralf Kilian, Fraunhofer IBP A structure under the roof would probably have helped avert the worst of the hail damage to the Alte Schäfflerei, Kilian believes. The original roof structure was preserved when the historical build- ing was last renovated, from 2010 to 2016. “We’ll fix that now, during the repairs,” he says. “If the roof tiles should break again, we have a second layer of roofing under- neath, so the water can simply run off instead of flowing into the ceiling of the top floor.” Half-timbered houses at special risk Increased winter precipitation is one of the biggest threats to historical buildings in Germany. In Bavaria alone, simulations performed by the EURO-CORDEX ini- tiative, which is receiving funding from the World Climate Research Programme, predict an average increase of about 15 percent in precipitation during the six wettest months of the year between now and 2098. Half-timbered houses are at special risk of damage, as the way they are built is especially susceptible. The medie- val town of Quedlinburg, on the edge of AI-generated, but still realistic: Giant hailstones are falling from the sky more frequently. the Harz mountains, is one of Germany’s best-preserved half-timbered towns. It was officially designated a UNESCO World Her- itage site in 1994. There are 1,300 half-tim- bered buildings in Quedlinburg alone, out of some two million throughout Germany. As part of the KERES project, which is receiving funding from the German Fed- eral Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Kilian studied the buildings, which feature a typical “skeleton” made of timber, and developed preventive preser- vation measures aimed partly at providing better protection against extreme weath- er. “The wood is constantly in motion. It expands, it contracts. This makes it very easy for cracks to form, especially at the joints between the wood and the infill, the material filling in the space between the beams. And then water penetrates, espe- cially in heavy rain,” he explains. Togeth- er with his team, Kilian is working on an innovative facade protection system with a plaster base made from Typha, a genus of bulrush or reed that is right at home in wet environments. “We plan to produce plates out of Typha and use them to cover the joints. This will let us separate the wall from the plaster, creating a flexible 61 P B I r e f o h n u a r F l , f r 3 2 1 / i c c u o g r e s : s o t o h P i

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine Fraunhofer at 75 — cause for celebration... n o i t a i c o s s a e t a t s y t r a p U D C , e c n a n i F f o y r t s i n M i l a r e d e F n a m r e G / k e h t o t o h P , a p d / r e s u e M - n n o B a i r o t c i V , y r e l l e c n a h C e t a t S / e z t e D r e v i l i O , y r e l l e c n a h C e t a t S n a … because technology is the future! Fraunhofer has been combining cutting-edge research with real-world applications for 75 years and is an international leader in this field. Happy birthday and congratulations on this success! The Free State of Bavaria has been a driving force and close partner right from the start. Fraunhofer and Bavaria form a great alliance, one that we plan to continue to strengthen in the future. As part of its High-Tech Agenda, Bavaria is currently investing over 5.5 billion euros in science and research throughout the federal state. In addition to room for 13,000 more students at universities and 1,000 professorships for the brightest minds, we are actively promoting the transfer of knowledge from research to real-world applications. “Live long and prosper!” Dr. Markus Söder, Minister-President of the Free State of Bavaria … because the Fraunhofer- Gesellschaft has been harnessing tremendous innovative strength and creative ideas to blaze new trails in science and research for 75 years now. Saarland especially needs this inventiveness and outstanding research findings, paired with the courage to forge new paths, if we are to advance the transformation process. I extend my best wishes to the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft on its many years of successful work in applied research, which has brought important advances for the whole of humanity and for our local companies. Anke Rehlinger, Minister-President of Saarland i r a v a B : s o t o h P FRAUNHOFER 75 YEARS OF INNOVATION … because the Fraunhofer- Gesellschaft, more than any other institution, stands for Europe’s leading position in applied research. Our unique European research landscape, combined with the internal market and wealth of innovative medium-sized businesses, is the essential driver of growth and forward-looking jobs in Europe. Many thanks for all you do — and keep up the good work! Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission … because the cutting-edge applied research of the Fraun- hofer-Gesellschaft has been a driver of growth in the German economy for 75 years. Innovative strength and openness to new technologies are the only way forward as we tackle the challenges we face these days. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is setting a shining example. It is an important factor in making our country attractive as a place to do business. Christian Lindner, German Federal Minister of Finance … because Fraunhofer stands for new beginnings, innovative strength, and excellence in research. And because the Fraunhofer institutes and all their hardworking employees are important sources of fresh impetus, in Saxony and beyond. The research organization was also an instrumental part of Saxony’s successful development after the German reunification. Michael Kretschmer, Minister-President of the Free State of Saxony 63

FRAUNHOFER 75 YEARS OF INNOVATION 2023 Prof. Holger Hanselka became the 11th president of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft on May 25, 2023. Hanselka, a mechanical engineer, was familiar with Fraunhofer, having served as the director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF in Darmstadt from 2001 to 2013. He joined with the stated intention of modernizing and consolidating structures and processes within the organization and renewing its focus on market-driven contract research. 2019 The National Research Center for Applied Cybersecurity ATHENE began working as a research unit of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, with the Technical University of Darmstadt and Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences as the other partners. ATHENE is the largest research center for applied cyberse- curity research in Europe, and a key part of Germany’s cybersecurity strategy. 2015 The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft founded its first-ever regional high-performance centers, where Fraunhofer institutes work closely with industry and other partners on a local basis, covering projects on related topics. The goal was to pool strengths and tap into local potential. The first center opened in Freiburg with plans to expand into a location for cutting-edge research on sustainability. Pilot projects were financed by the state of Baden-Württemberg, private enterprises, and the Fraunhofer-Ge- sellschaft. High-performance centers were established in Erlangen and Dresden shortly afterward. Today, more than 20 centers bring suitable partners together. Tests at the S3 safety laboratory show that the vaccines made using electron beams have protective effects comparable to those of conven- tional vaccines. 2021 Protection against diseases Faster, ecofriendlier vaccine production with greater efficiency and lower costs is possible with a new technology developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, the Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA. The new technology makes it possible to inactivate pathogens within milliseconds using electron beams. Toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde are often used to inactivate viruses in killed vaccines. However, there are considerable disadvantages. The toxic substances destroy part of the external structure of the virus, but they harm the environment, even when disposed of correctly. They also require the vaccine to be extensively purified before use. On top of that, the inactivation process can take weeks or even months, depending on the virus. The research team was honored with the Fraunhofer Prize for Human- and Environ- ment-Centered Technology for their innova- tive method in 2021. This prize, which comes with 50,000 euros in prize money, is given out every two years by the Fraunhofer-Ge- sellschaft, the Fraunhofer Future Foundation, former board members, institute directors, and other supporters. It is awarded for achievements in research and development that improve people’s quality of life or help make our world more sustainable. I Z I r e f o h n u a r F , n u a r B d n u r e l a h t r e V i , l a n o s r e p , o t o h p k c o t s i / g n o h p i t t i S : s o t o h P 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine 2024 Today, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the world’s leading applied research organiza- tion. It operates 76 institutes and research units and has 32,000 employees, primarily with backgrounds in physical and life sciences or engineering, all working on solu- tions for the challenges currently facing society as a whole — from climate change to health and artificial intelligence. 2020 Fraunhofer launched its “Fraunhofer vs. Corona” initiative to support industry and society in fighting the pandemic. The program bolstered research on innovative diagnostics and on vaccine and drug development, supplied IT capacity, and provided rapid and straightforward assistance with producing components for personal protective equipment. 2017 The Fraunhofer Group for Innovation Research joined the seven existing cross-institute groups in 2017. It was the first group to have a socioeconomic focus. The five member institutes were tasked with identifying changes in industries, markets, and technologies early on and increasing their involvement in policy consulting. 2007 To remain competitive on worldwide markets, technological innovation was urgently needed. The German federal government introduced a research union between industry and academia. The new committee was made up of leading scientists and entrepreneurs and co-chaired by Fraunhofer president Prof. Hans-Jörg Bullinger and the president of donor organization Stifterverband für die deutsche Wissenschaft. The members formulated research tasks and recommended specific action plans to policymakers. At the new union’s urging, nine new innovation alliances were formed, with a business volume of 3.8 million euros. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft ramped up its presence in Berlin through the Fraunhofer Forum, a meeting and conference center inside the SpreePalais building, where the organization also moved into its own offices in the German capital. 65

2002 The group structure of the Fraunhofer-Ge- sellschaft was expanded. That year, there were more than 50 institutes working together across seven groups: Production, Life Sciences, Light & Surfaces, Materials and Components, ICT, Microelectronics, and Defense and Security (VVS). A change in the statutes gave the group chairs a bigger say in operations, so the executive board was required to involve them in decision making. 1994 The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft established its first-ever legally independent foreign affiliate in 1994: Fraunhofer USA. It acted as an umbrella organization for branches known as resource centers, which cooperat- ed closely with individual Fraunhofer institutes in Germany. Two years later, the organization founded representative offices in Malaysia and Singapore as well as in the city of Beijing in a bid to forge ties with the world’s key economic areas. In the years to come, Fraunhofer would continue to drive internationalization by founding further foreign affiliates and representative offices. 1990 Germany’s reunification presents opportu- nities to expand. Moving swiftly and resolutely, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is quicker than other research institutions to seize the day, setting up more than 21 new institutes and research units in the federal states that have newly joined the Federal Republic. They began their work in 1991 — initially in makeshift settings in many cases. 1978 The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft honed a standardized image and built a professional media presence to raise its profile with the public at large. All institutes were given the uniform title “Fraunhofer Institute for...” Fraunhofer scientists often move into business or industry or to other innovation organizations. Even after I moved from Fraunhofer FOKUS to Initiative D21, I’ve still stayed in close touch with ‘my’ institute, including as a strategic advisor on the advisory board. People can also keep in contact with the institutes, think outside the box, learn from each other, and grow together through Fraunhofer-Alumni e.V. It’s a bridge between the past and future that promotes the sharing of experience and ideas.” Lena-Sophie Müller, managing director of Initiative D21 and member of the Digital Council of the German Federal Ministry of Defence; formerly: Fraunhofer FOKUS The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has been a part of my entire profes- sional life so far. This is where I got my first management experience, and even later on, I still had close contact through various forms of collaboration and board activities. I’m really grateful to my compan- ions from the ‘Fraunhofer world,’ old and new, for all these opportunities. My wish for the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft going forward would be for it to remain scientifically inde- pendent and closely connected with its in- dustrial partners — and in that way, to stay a successful trailblazer for the whole of the German economy.” Dr. Michael Mertin, former chairman of the executive board of Jenoptik AG; formerly: Fraunhofer ILT 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine 2005 Increased internal networking and the pooling of competencies were a success: The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft saw industrial revenue rise by 36 percent year over year in 2005. The Pact for Research and Innovation, a research support initiative of the German federal and state governments, guaranteed Fraunhofer a three percent annual increase in base funding, allowing the organization to plan for the future. 1997 Following the 1984 establishment of the Fraunhofer Group for Microelectronics, additional Fraunhofer institutes began ramping up their efforts to join forces in 1997, forming thematically focused groups and developing shared marketing concepts and research strategies. Headquarters established internal funding programs to support cross-institute cooperation 1993 While the institutes’ industrial revenues rose significantly, government funding slowed as a result of the costs of reunification and rigorous austerity measures. The institutes joined forces, adopting the “Leitbild 2000” guiding principle, which set out a shared strategy calling for closer connectivity and clearer areas of focus, among other things. 1983 A computer scientist by profession, new Fraunhofer president Prof. Max Syrbe was quick to recognize the potential of computer- ization. He had all Fraunhofer workstations brought up to the very latest standard in information technology. To boost efficiency, he also launched a continuing education initiative for managers with the goal of saving on costs through professional project management going forward. These measures were a success: Contract research grew by 107 percent between 1984 and 1989, and industrial revenue even more, by 136 percent. FRAUNHOFER 75 YEARS OF INNOVATION 67 h c o K s a b o T i , i k h p a r g o t o h P n n a m b e J , i E S I r e f o h n u a r F , o t o h p k c o t s i / s v e j r o g i r G s m i s k a M : s o t o h P

My doctorate with Fraunhofer was the educational opportunity I had been looking for to flesh out the theory I learned in college, to look at relevance through the ‘industry lens’ and work to create new things. In my start-up, I’ve changed sides now, so I’m the customer (which makes me always right). I see Fraunhofer as a state-of-the-art re- search department with an instrumental role in meeting my objectives. Now, at Fraunhofer’s 75th anniversary, here’s to a fruitful collabora- tion, and thank you for everything!” Dr. Miro Taphanel, founder and managing director of Gixel; formerly: Fraunhofer IOSB My time at Fraunhofer ISE gave me a thorough grounding and all the tools I needed for my professional path. Thanks to the outstanding technical equip- ment, incredibly capable colleagues, and espe- cially the extremely high motivation at the in- stitute, I was able to build a treasure trove of experience, which I regularly draw on to my benefit even now, years later.” Dr. Stefan Reber, managing director of TPRC GmbH, founder and former managing director of NexWafe GmbH; formerly: Fraunhofer ISE At my institute, I experienced a unique sense of intellectual freedom and got support for my idea. It was a success with customers, but that’s not all. We also won a transfer award. I’m still in close touch with Fraunhofer today as I work on the next stage of the Peerox self-learning assistance system. Fraunhofer is the perfect ecosystem for anyone looking to start their own business to develop new technologies with a lot of contact with in- dustry and gain an understanding of markets.” Andre Schult, founder and CEO of Peerox GmbH; formerly: Fraunhofer IVV Dresden 1972 The “Fraunhofer model” was created to govern the institutes’ future financing, promising an increase in state funding as the revenue earned from contract research increased. This brand-new, perfor- mance-based form of base funding acted as a huge catalyst, ultimately bringing growth levels that had previously been thought impossible. At the same time, the Fraun- hofer-Gesellschaft adopted new statutes, which installed a full-time, three-person executive board with clearly defined areas of responsibility, greater authority, and a significantly more prominent leadership role for the president. 1959 Ten years after its inception, the Fraun- hofer-Gesellschaft already had nine institutes of its own, 135 employees and a budget of 3.6 million German marks. Fraunhofer continued to expand, offering secure funding and a scientific home for numerous research groups. In 1964, the politically influential German Science and Humanities Council (Wissenschaftsrat, WR) recommended that Fraunhofer receive institutional support. 1951 In its early years, the Fraunhofer-Ge- sellschaft’s mission was predominantly to raise funds and pass them along to individual researchers. Wilhelm Roelen, an industrialist from the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, was elected to serve as the next president in 1951. Former Weimar chancellor Hans Luther took over as senate chair. That same year, Fraunhofer received funds under the Marshall Plan established by the United States, also known as the European Recovery Program (ERP). This was a success for the general management, who served on a voluntary basis, and a testimoni- al to Fraunhofer’s increasing recognition in the political sphere. FRAUNHOFER 75 YEARS OF INNOVATION 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine 1976 The Fraunhofer program to promote contract research for small and medium-sized enterprises was initiated, forging ties between Fraunhofer and a key new customer segment. The institutes were able to approach SMEs with attractive offers, with the state covering between 40 and 60 percent of the project costs. Within the space of six months, these contracts gave rise to a host of innovative products and processes. 1968 The years of the Wirtschaftswunder — the German postwar “economic miracle” — were over. To spur fresh economic growth, policy- makers increasingly turned their sights on the development of innovative technologies, ushering in the era of applied research. The German federal research ministry awarded its first grant to the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, in the amount of two million marks, and then created a special committee aimed at promoting the expansion of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in 1968. The committee devised a new structure and drafted new statutes. 1954 Newly elected president Hermann von Siemens, grandson of inventor and Siemens founder Werner von Siemens, realized that Fraunhofer would need to build research capacity of its own if it was to stand up to competitors. At the same time, the organiza- tion widened its scope of activity from Bavaria to the whole of West Germany. On June 1, 1954, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft founded its first institute, the Institute for Applied Microscopy, Photography and Cinematogra- phy IMPK, in Mannheim. It had a staff of seven. A few months later, it also began working with four institutes run by the German federal defense ministry. In return, it received regular payments that allowed for the creation of further civilian institutes. 1949 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. was founded in Munich on March 26, 1949. The initiators aimed to spur economic development and advance the industrialization of Bavaria, a heavily agricultural region at the time. The patron and first senate chair was Hugo Geiger, a state secretary at the Bavarian economics ministry, and the first president was nuclear physicist and Munich university rector Prof. Walther Gerlach. 69 r e l a h t n e g e i Z m m T i , l a n o s r e p , l e x i G , o t o h p k c o t s i / b t i o n e b , u s t i j u F , F O I r e f o h n u a r F : s o t o h P

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine Every drop counts Paint makes everyday items pop. But a lot of material is lost during the spraying process. That costs money, wastes resources, and is not sustainable. Fraunhofer IPA is on the case, looking for ways to eliminate “overspray.” By Manuel Montefalcone E very drop of paint is unique. No two are alike. Even with all this variety, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA have man- aged to study the properties of paint involved in drop formation and work out specifications for different paints and nozzles. Their work was prompted by “overspray,” a factor that “has been on the minds of the entire industry for years now,” as project manager Thomas Hess explains. Overspray is the excess paint that is sprayed during the painting process and does not end up on the workpiece. It results in unneces- sary paint consumption, costly and time-consuming cleaning of the paint booth, and complex machinery and engineering. “It’s not sustainable or resource-friendly,” Hess says. “And it’s far from cost-effective, too.” To prevent overspray and increase the efficiency of the painting process, the paint could be applied in individual targeted drops from the nozzle. Hess and Franz Balluff from Fraun- hofer IPA pursued this idea by studying the phys- ics and chemistry behind the coating substances. As part of the DigitalPaint- ing project, the researchers worked on the application of the paints, their composition, and how they form coatings. After many experiments and simulations, they o t o h p k c o t s i : o t o h P developed model paints and studied how they affect the formation of drops. This allowed them to devise a scientific foundation consisting of characteristics, paint property profiles, nozzle geometries, and process parameters. Transferring the research findings to a simulation model ultimately resulted in the development of a comprehensive toolbox. The new toolbox offers application technology and paint manufacturers as well as painting companies a new solution for overspray-free, highly individualized, and cost-saving painting. “All of the various industries where painting should be done without overspray can benefit from our toolbox, from wood finishers to auto- motive manufacturers,” Hess says. “Our method allows for selective coating and even two-tone paint jobs without costly, time-con- suming, and labor-intensive masking.” There has been i nterest from across the industry. Small and medi- um-sized enterprises are es- pecially keen to eliminate overspray and improve efficiency while cutting costs. Hess and Balluff’s solu- tion also impressed the judges for the Otto von Guer- icke Prize, awarded by the German Federation of Indus- trial Research Associations (AiF): The team of researchers received the award in 2023 in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the field of industrial collective research. 71

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine footprint. “If the package is delivered by an electric vehicle, that cuts emissions per order by a quarter,” explains Clemens Brauer, a research scientist at Fraunhofer ISI. “That’s a huge factor we can use to make online shopping greener.” Packaging is another key to greater sustain- ability, Gotsch believes. Many items could be shipped directly in their outer product packaging, for example. This would decrease packaging volumes by nearly one-quarter. Reusable pouches are also a possibility, he notes. Calculations show that they could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from packaging by as much as 98 percent. This would require that the sturdy shipping pouches be reused enough times and be recyclable at the end of their useful lives. Consumers would also have to be willing to return them. The study also shows that delivering items to an access point or locker within walking distance instead of right to the customer’s front door can cut the carbon emissions from the delivery process in half. Buying used items through “re-commerce” platforms has addition- al environmental benefits. Consumers should also avoid returning items wherever possible, as returns are responsible for 13 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with e-com- merce transportation. All this means customers can decide for themselves with just a few clicks how green they want their orders to be. Delivering items to an access point or locker instead of the customer’s front door cuts carbon emis- sions from the delivery process in half. Making opening packages an even happier occasion: A few clicks can make online shopping greener. 73 k c o t S e b o d A / s n o i t c u d o r P a d y S : o t o h P

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine The worldwide volume of data is projected to grow to 284 zettabyte between now and 2027. high storage density and durability, how- ever. So far, there is no high-throughput technology for this. Storing data in DNA But how can DNA be used as a storage medium? Our DNA has four bases: ade- nine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). Differences in how they are arranged are what defines our DNA as a “blueprint.” The binary code used for pro- cessing digital information has a similar function. To use DNA as mass storage, this means that the first step is to turn digital information into DNA sequences. This is done by translating a binary code of zeros and ones into a sequence of the nucleotides A, C, G, and T. This produces an artificial strand of DNA. The goal of BIOSYNTH is to generate error-free se- quences of up to 250 nucleotides. This process — the coding — takes place digitally, as does the decoding. Mechanical processes are also needed to synthesize and sequence the DNA. The microchip platform that the Fraunhofer consortium is developing enables thermal synthesis, among other things. To that end, thousands of tiny heating elements are built into the chip to support the synthesis of microbi- ological molecules such as DNA, RNA, and peptides. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and photodiodes monitor the process. Going forward, the researchers can also envision OLEDs activating the microbiological synthesis process, Vogel explains. In this way, molecules can be composed artificially according to a pre- established blueprint and then used to store data. The scientists have already developed their first technology demonstrators. A lot of room, no errors They have three primary goals in the project. First, the researchers aim to dra- matically increase storage density. They also plan to considerably speed up the rate at which data are written, meaning trans- ferring bits and bytes to DNA. The third goal is to achieve zero errors. Since writ- ing and reading the data will necessarily involve isolated errors, there need to be ways to detect and correct these mistakes. The consortium has already identified ap- proaches they can use for all three points. Storage density can be increased by way of synthetic microbiology. “Nine terabytes (TB) of coded DNA bits can be stored in a single cubic millimeter. A single DNA base fits inside a cubic nanometer,” Vogel says. The synthesis equipment, which currently takes up a lot of room, is to be replaced by portable, low-cost systems that do not use a lot of energy. This makes commercial, biologically based data storage possible. This method also promises practically in- finite shelf life, as research findings on the DNA present in the bones of Neanderthals suggest. Modern microelectronics can be used to dramatically increase write speed by performing simultaneous writing opera- tions. The Fraunhofer experts are also working on on-chip monitoring. This feature will detect errors early on during the write process and cause the data to be corrected right away. This kind of microchip platform will benefit many users, including those that have to archive large volumes of data, like the German Federal Archives and health insurance funds. “This technology has vast potential, including in the chip industry or, for example, in synthesizing molecules for drug development,” Vogel says. . d t L l e x i p w a R / o t o h p k c o t s i : o t o h P 75

Hugo Geiger Prize Prize for talented young scientists Every year, the Free State of Bavaria and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft award the Hugo Geiger Prize to three young scientists who have produced outstanding doctoral work in the field of applied research. fields: It contains no lead, so it is substantially eco- friendlier than alternatives containing lead. In tech- nological terms, it allows for much thinner layers in the memory chips, down from 500 to 10 nm, so com- ponents and devices can be designed to be significant- ly smaller. Furthering understanding of ferroelectricity When Lederer first heard about this new discovery as a student in a lecture at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg some years later, he was electri- fied himself. The effect was already known, but the structure and behavior of hafnium oxide were poorly understood at that time, so the material could not yet be used reliably in new applications. Lederer wanted to change that. He went on to write his dissertation at Dresden University of Technology, teaming up with the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS to investigate the material’s nanostructural properties in detail. For his research, Lederer com- bined knowledge from the fields of solid-state physics, materials science, computer science, and electrical engineering. He made several important discoveries in the process, employing a new method of analysis that let him delve deeper into the microstructure and S M P I r e f o h n u a r F / k a s s a L n a i t s a b e S : o t o h P 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine microprocesses of HfO2 than anyone before him and visualize these aspects. In this way, he was able to trace the material’s crystallization behavior in detail for the first time ever — and thus further develop and optimize it with an eye to factors such as grain growth. Alongside ferroelectricity, Lederer also demon- strated the material’s ferroelasticity, a related prop- erty. “People used to think the only way to switch the polarization of the atoms was by applying an electric charge,” Lederer explains. “I was able to show that this is also possible through mechanical stress, such as pressing or pulling.” That is hugely important with regard to the processing of HfO2: Production steps need to be adjusted in such a way that mechanical influ- ences do not cause any changes in the thin layers, thus reducing their reliability. Ultimately, Lederer also identified a solution to an additional problem: The process of getting the material from the amorphous phase to the crystalline one, when it is ferroelectric, had previously been limited during production to thermal methods that required high temperatures. Lederer devised a new method called electric field-induced crystallization as a better approach: “With electric field-induced crystallization, all you have to do to cause ferroelec- tricity is apply alternating voltage. This persists even when the voltage is no longer applied in that case. And that way, you get even better and more robust prop- erties than with the thermal method,” Lederer says. The method has another advantage: The circuits with HfO2 storage are also more secure as a result of the electric field-induced crystallization, as the hardware allows the data to be encrypted in three dimensions and at the same time prevents reading of the data from outside. Lederer’s work caused a splash not only in the scientific world, where it has been cited over 800 times to date, but also in industry. Right now, multiple pro- ducers, such as Sony and X-FAB, are working to incor- porate memory chips with ferroelectric hafnium oxide into their products to make them faster, smaller and more energy efficient. Dresden-based chip manufac- turer GlobalFoundries is among them and is current- ly working with Fraunhofer IPMS to test ferroelectric memory devices in a research and development line. The maximum reliability of the components is a key success factor for everyone. And Lederer was instru- mental in that regard. In the role of lead scientist at Fraunhofer, he is continuing to explore the many possible applications of hafnium oxide. Read on for second and third prize 77

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine Theatrical releases bring together as many as 128 different sources of sound. 79 right and left is greater than between top and bottom. I incorporate that into a perceptual coordinate sys- tem that makes it possible to factor in the accuracy of localizing sound sources more effectively, for more efficiency in processing audio information. On the basis of these psycho-acoustic models, Dick developed algorithms to simplify and encode the 3D audio scenes based on perceptions. Operating on the idea that sounds that cannot be distinguished sharp- ly also don’t need to be transmitted separately, this means sound sources that are indistinguishable to the human ear can be combined. This makes it pos- sible to reduce the complexity of 3D audio by a factor of ten. Instead of transmitting soundtracks with 60 sound sources, just six consolidated audio objects are enough to deliver a realistic sound experience — with- out any loss of quality. This drastically reduces not only the amount of computing resources required for audio coding, but also the transmission rates needed for streaming. Dick’s findings and algorithms are also being incorporated into the new MPEG-H audio standard, which Fraunhofer is playing a key role in advancing. It is the great-grandchild of mp3, so to speak. Improved speech intelligibility In practice, this method is interesting not only for home theater experiences, but also for mobile VR/AR or gaming applications, since it unlocks high-quality 3D audio scenes in real time. And it offers another crucial advantage: The fuller and more diverse the audio scenes in a film are, the more difficult it can be to understand the speakers. This method allows people with hearing impairments to personalize the audio scenes for their use. “Combining the sound sources intelligently into spatial audio objects lets me keep the dialogue sound sources separate from the sources of other sounds,” Dick says. “And that means it’s possible to improve the intelligibility of speech when there is background noise or music by raising the level of the dialogue or dialing down the rest. So, even when a speaker is moving around in space, you can hear them accurate- ly in any position.” In the future, there could even be a button for clear speech in 3D audio content — so there would truly be no obstacle to the full theatrical sound experience right in people’s own living rooms. Except for maybe the crunching of popcorn. “One important finding was how dependent on direction our ability to localize sounds is.” Dr. Sascha Dick S I I r e f o h n u a r F / t r e k u P l l u a P : : o s t o o t h o P F perceived distribution of volume in an audio scene, localization accuracy, and masking effects in 3D audio scenes. He calibrated these models to the results of his listening experiments: “One important finding, for example, was how dependent on direction our ability to localize sounds is,” Dick says. “Because we hear with greater accuracy in the horizontal plane than up and down, the perceived distance between

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine If cancer is detected early, treatment prospects improve. Dr. Susann Allelein’s research has laid key foundations for this. (PSMA) on their surface, for example. To analyze this surface protein on the vesicles directly from bodily fluids, we developed an antibody microarray for clinical diagnosis. Now, for the first time, this array can be used to study as many as 33 surface proteins from a sample and a large number of patient samples simultaneously,” Allelein explains. She also devised a specific enrichment method by which what are known as capture molecules can be used to magnet- ically isolate the vesicles with PSMA from the mass of irrelevant vesicles in urine or blood samples. Things sometimes take an unexpected turn And then there was a surprising key moment while Allelein was writing her dissertation: “The results were promising, but PSMA ultimately turned out not to be a suitable marker. Vesicles do reflect the cells, but there are exceptions. And one of those exceptions was PSMA,” she explains. But Allelein was undaunt- ed. After all, her work is foundational for the emerging but promising field of extracellular vesicle research. She now plans to study further markers and apply her methods to other diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. “Another advantage to extracellular vesicles is that they can pass through the blood–brain barrier. And that means they can be used to find and analyze neuronal information in the blood,” Allelein says, looking down the road. “They can also be used ther- apeutically. Right now, we’re starting to research whether the vesicles of CAR T cells have potential for supportive cancer treatment.” I Z I r e f o h n u a r F / t r e n u r G a l e a h c i M : o t o h P 81

Fraunhofer magazine 1 | 24 Less stress for plants Species extinction and climate change call for an ecological transformation of agriculture as we know it. Five Fraunhofer institutes have teamed up to use new sensor technologies in the search for efficient, sustainable — and most of all, fast — solutions. By Dr. Monika Offenberger T he recent protests by farmers across Germany are still fresh in the public’s minds. They have a laundry list of require- ments to meet: protecting the soil, water, and climate; setting aside more habitat for wild bees and other pollinators; reducing chemical use — and at the same time providing high-quality food for a growing population. And they are supposed to do it all amid global warming, which brings not only extreme heat and drought, but often also torrential rains and unseason- able freezing weather. Where to start? “We urgently need more-robust plants that can cope with environmental and climate conditions in their specific location,” says Dr. Stefan Gerth, a physicist from the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Fürth. In the Biogenic Val- ue Creation and Smart Farming (BWSF) initiative, Fraunhofer IIS has joined forces with the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD, the Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering IGP, the Fraun- hofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Microsystems and Solid State Technologies EMFT to identify solutions for the agriculture of the future. At the Fraunhofer Development Center for X-ray Technology EZRT at Fraunhofer IIS, Gerth harnesses the invisible rays to bring the hidden properties of crops to light: “We can now use X-ray methods to watch selected plants grow underground for the first time without destroying them. We’re interested in how quickly and at what angle individual seedlings form roots when under drought stress. That’s what decides whether they are better at absorbing water close to the surface or tend to reach deep- er-seated stores of water instead,” he ex- plains. Root architecture is a key factor in cultivating new, climate-resistant plant varieties, along with others such as seed germination capacity, the photosynthetic properties of the leaves, and the number and size of bulbs, grains, and fruits. To- gether with many other hereditary traits, these features make up a plant’s “pheno- type,” the sum of its observable character- istics. Describing these characteristics is known as phenotyping. “For millennia, phenotyping of crops was limited to what happens above the ground. And assessing breeding stock for desired characteristics is still done main- ly by experts who go out into the field and assign scores by appearance. Our goal is to capture phenotype information in much greater detail — and above all, objective- ly — from the seed to the mature plant,” Gerth says. To achieve that, his team has developed a computed tomography (CT) system to survey plants completely auto- matically, both above the ground and under it. The system then uses special algorithms to generate data relevant to cultivation of new varieties. In addition to X-rays, 3D laser tomography and other imaging methods are used, Gerth explains. “Depending on the question, we also measure near-infrared light or use mul- “We urgently need more-robust plants that can cope with environmental and climate conditions in their specific location.” Dr. Stefan Gerth, Fraunhofer IIS 84

1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine tispectral imaging to identify certain plant behaviors.” Fraunhofer IIS has already supplied fully automated phenotyping systems that incorporate CT technology to major seed producers and research institutions in Europe, Australia, the U.S., and China. A new unit that is available for rent is to begin operating in Triesdorf, in Germany’s Franconia region, by the end of this year, Gerth explains. “We want to make this costly infrastructure available to local start-ups and SMEs in addition to major players, with the aim of advancing bio- genic value creation in Germany. Users will be able to assess the quality of seed or seedlings or analyze growth in plant struc- tures like wheat roots and potato tubers.” And time is pressing. After all, getting from the initial breeding idea to the final new variety can take ten to 15 years. “We need to get much faster,” Gerth says, “and learn even more from nature. Even with all our experience of breeding and cultivation, there’s still too much we don’t know about how certain plants actually work, espe- cially in situations of stress.” “We know that plants emit certain gases in response to stress or pest infesta- tion. We aim to use new sensor technolo- gies to visualize these gas molecules, which occur in very low concentrations,” says Christian Wald from Fraunhofer EMFT in Munich. His team is also using “on-plant sensors” to watch as plants breathe, via organic polymers printed as 2D or 3D structures directly onto the leaf, where they react to the slightest change in mois- ture. This makes it possible to record the exchange of gases through the “pores” by which plants breathe over time, extrapo- lating from there to the plants’ vitality. Prof. Joachim Wegener is pursuing a dif- ferent approach at the Fraunhofer EMFT branch lab in Regensburg: He is using insect cells cultured in nutrient solutions to detect harmful substances in samples taken from the environment. Healthy cells behave differently on surfaces than those exposed to various toxins — and sensors can be used to detect the differences. Soils communicate wirelessly The BWSF researchers plan to use an- other smart tool to measure and analyze physical environmental conditions with greater accuracy and in greater detail than before — both in the Fraunhofer IIS phenotyping infrastructure and out in the field. “We’re working on a new groundwa- ter extraction device that combines sensor elements with a suction probe, a piezo- electric micromembrane pump, and an antenna for wireless data transmission,” Wald explains. The instrument is designed to measure key soil-related data such as moisture, pH, and levels of ammonium, nitrate, and dissolved oxygen reliably and in real time, directly in the soil, and transmit this information wirelessly to a central measurement station. In the future, these independent probes may take the place of the time-consuming and costly process of extracting groundwater samples and analyzing them in the lab. For this research project, Fraunhofer “We know that plants emit certain gases in response to stress or pest infestation.” Christian Wald, Fraunhofer EMFT Quality control for seed and seedlings: Fraunhofer IIS has developed a technology for this. o t o h p k c o t s i / h g e L e t a K i : o t o h P 85

Fraunhofer on the road Hanover Berlin Frankfurt Stuttgart Munich 1 | 24 Fraunhofer magazine Berlin June 5–9, 2024 ILA International aerospace expo Frankfurt am Main June 10–14, 2024 Achema World forum for the process industries: chemical engineering, process technology, and biotechnology Munich June 12–13, 2024 Fraunhofer annual assembly Hanover April 22–26, 2024 Hannover Messe The world’s leading industrial trade show. High-tech, innovative solutions to meet global industrial challenges Stuttgart April 23–26, 2024 Control International trade show for quality assurance Munich May 13–17, 2024 IFAT World’s leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management Fraunhofer magazine The magazine for people shaping the future Would you like to get the Fraunhofer magazine in your mailbox as soon as it comes out — for free? Order it online directly at https://s.fhg.de/of 3 2 | 3 Sovereignty from space 200 satellites to increase security Better plastics From environmental crime to biosynthetics Dr. Benedikt Hauer, Fraunhofer IPM Perilous pest New solutions for the fight against mosquitoes “We need even more research!” An interview with German Minister for the Environment Steffi Lemke 87 “Cutting-edge research is the driver of innovations”Interview with Hendrik Wüst, minister-president and rising star in the CDU party1 | 24“We need a culture of openness”Siemens CEO Roland BuschHarnessing pollution for goodCO2Rethinking masonry:Dr. Michael Prokein Fraunhofer: a success story through timeDr. Georg Umlauf, Fraunhofer IGB, points the way toward clean water.Ways forward for water, industry and the world PFAS: The poison of the century4 | 23“I feel like Krampus” An interview with German finance minister Christian Lindner2024 — Time to lighten up Trends in lightweight construction“Pragmatism trumps the sledgehammer approach”An impassioned plea from Dr. Martin Brudermüller, BASF SE