Fraunhofer Representative Office Japan
Fraunhofer Representative Office Japan

Press Releases

Press Releases 2014

Science needs an open-minded atmosphere

The current discussion surrounding immigration and asylum is moving society; it is keeping the media busy and challenging politics. Besides the fact that a demographically ageing society also needs immigration, a particular perspective applies for science, as it is and always has been international.
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Saving lives with SENEKA

Five Fraunhofer institutes from different disciplines have teamed up for the Beyond Tomorrow project SENEKA – a sensor network with mobile robots for disaster management. The aim is to create a reliable and flexible system for saving human lives in an emergency, using sensors, communication technology elements and robots.
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The »Pompeii Sustainable Preservation Project«

For over 250 years, Pompeii has been a magnet for people from all over the world who are fascinated by our classical heritage. Every year some three million tourists flock to the ancient world’s largest continuous urban ruins. Restoration has been taking place ever since excavations began on the ancient city. Now leading European research institutions have undertaken a fundraising initiative called the Pompeii Sustainable Preservation Project, whose goal is to secure the site’s long-term future and apply the knowledge gained along the way to the preservation of other ancient sites worldwide.
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200 years of Fraunhofer lines

Researcher Joseph von Fraunhofer, born in 1787, brought us closer to the stars. Counted as one of the founders of modern optics, he succeeded in manufacturing telescopes in a quality that had never been seen before. In 1814, he made his most significant discovery, which was then named after him – Fraunhofer lines. These make it possible for us to get a closer look at space and to understand how stars are born.
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Fraunhofer researchers were awarded with the German Future Prize for work on healthy and delicious lupine proteins

November 19, 2014: Lupines can constitute an important nutritional element of the human diet. Scientists have found a way to process lupine seeds so they can be turned into protein-rich, flavor-neutral ingredients for foods. For their work on this, Fraunhofer scientists Stephanie Mittermaier and Peter Eisner and Prolupin GmbH’s Katrin Petersen were awarded the German Future Prize 2014 (»Deutscher Zukunftspreis«).
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Fraunhofer among the Top 100 Innovators worldwide

November 6, 2014: Fraunhofer is one of the most innovative organizations worldwide. As in the year before a study of the international media group Thomson Reuters also comes to this result in 2014. Besides Fraunhofer also BASF, Bosch and Siemens are the only German representatives among the »Top 100 Global Innovators 2014«.
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EARTO prize for Fraunhofer

October 15, 2014: Fraunhofer researchers receive an Innovation Prize this year from the European Association for Research and Technology Organisations EARTO for the development of software that protects companies from theft and improper use of data. In addition, Frank Treppe, Division Director of Corporate Strategy and International Affairs at Fraunhofer, has been elected as EARTO Vice President. Together with EARTO President Maria Khorsand, he will be representing 350 institutions conducting applied research in Europe.
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New World Record for Concentrator Photovoltaics

July 14, 2014: The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has been successfully developing concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) technology for many years. In this technology Fresnel lenses are used to bundle sunlight and focus it onto miniature, highly efficient solar cells. The FLATCON® module technology originates from Fraunhofer ISE and is continually under further development at the Institute. Now with their newest CPV module technology, the Freiburg researchers announce a world record module efficiency of 36.7 %, achieved by adapting the concentrating lens to a new solar cell structure. The high module efficiency was measured under Concentrator Standard Testing Conditions, or CSTC, and marks the best value ever achieved for a photovoltaic module.
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FIFA World Cup Final filmed in pioneering 360° Ultra HD

July 13, 2014: The 2014 FIFA World Cup™ Production of the Final Match will pioneer a 360-degree viewing experience thanks to a panoramic, Ultra HD OmniCam developed by scientists at the Fraunhofer HHI in Berlin. Football fans will be able to re-live all the drama and emotion of the July 13 match between Germany and Argentina in this ground-breaking format for the first time at the new FIFA World Football Museum in Zürich, which is scheduled to open its doors to the public in early 2016.
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Top-class international research into tomorrow’s mobility – Fraunhofer IAO and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are launching a joint lab focused on mobility called the Ambient Mobility Lab

July 10, 2014: Marking the start of this collaborative effort and offering the first insights into what’s to come was an opening event held on July 9, 2014. In attendance were Baden-Württemberg’s Minister of Finance and Economics Nils Schmid, Jeffrey M. Hill from the Consulate General of the United States, Maria Zuber, Vice President for Research at Boston-based MIT, and a host of scientists from both institutes.
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© Jürgen Lösel / Fraunhofer FEP

Fraunhofer COMEDD extends competences of Fraunhofer FEP

July 1, 2014: July has been lately bearing a special meaning for the scientists of COMEDD (Center for Organic Materials and Electronic Devices Dresden): Right on that day two years ago the distinct Fraunhofer institution for research in the area of organic processes and electronics, under the name of Fraunhofer COMEDD, had been established.
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Fraunhofer FOKUS is strengthening its cooperation with Indonesia

June 16, 2014: On 9th of June a »Memorandum of Understanding« between PT Telkom Indonesia, its sister company Telkom University and Fraunhofer FOKUS was signed in Bali. The objective of the MoU is the joint development of digital urban solutions for Indonesia.
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Katja Schenke-Layland distinguished with TERMIS-EU 2014 Young Scientist Award

June 10, 2014: For her outstanding research in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine Fraunhofer scientist Prof. Dr. Katja Schenke-Layland has been distinguished with the 2014 Young Scientist Award of the Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine International Society – European Chapter (TERMIS-EU).
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© Fraunhofer IWU

Minister of Education and Research opens the first Factory of the Future in Chemnitz

May 27, 2014: Prof. Johanna Wanka, German federal Minister of Education and Research (BMBF), opened the first E3-Research Factory in Chemnitz, in which the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft will be researching solutions for resource-efficient production for the future. Three additional demonstration sites with differing research priorities are presently under construction. Innovative technologies and pilot application projects will be developed and tested under the new E3-research approach in close practical cooperation with partners from industry. This approach focuses equally upon the efficient use of resources, on emissions neutrality, and on people.
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© Dirk Mahler/Fraunhofer

Liquid crystal as lubricant

May 21, 2014: Thanks to a new lubricant, small gears can run with virtually no friction. Made from liquid crystalline fluid, these lubricants drastically reduce friction and wear.
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Inspecting letters with terahertz waves

May 21, 2014: Is it a harmless parcel or a bomb, an innocent letter or a drug shipment? A new terahertz scanner is capable of detecting illicit drugs and explosives sent by post without having to open suspicious packages or envelopes.
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© Dirk Mahler/Fraunhofer

The digital film reel

May 21, 2014: Instead of heavy rolls of film, digital film copies are sent to movie theaters these days. With the easyDCP software, these digital packages can be easily created in the required standard so that the digital film can run in any theater.
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© Dirk Mahler/Fraunhofer

Adhesive bonding with pre-applied adhesives

May 21, 2014: In industrial production, bonding plays an increasingly important role. Researchers have now succeeded in separating the processes of applying the adhesive and the actual joining, which opens up a new world of applications.
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Prof. Alexander Verl becomes Executive Vice President

Apr 15, 2014: Prof. Alexander Verl assumed his position as Member of the Board and Executive Vice President for Technology Marketing and Business Models on 1 April 2014. He moves from Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA to senior level management of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The new department has been created to further develop potential within Fraunhofer – by utilizing the results of research and marketing research achievements.
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Fraunhofer researcher wins German Cancer Prize

February 20, 2014: Professor Christoph Klein was awarded the renowned German Cancer Prize. By selecting him for this prize, the German Cancer Society honored his outstanding experimental research into metastatic dissemination of cancer cells.
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Fraunhofer solar researchers are awarded the coveted Zayed Future Energy Prize 2014

Jan 22, 2014: Long before Germany set out on its journey toward a new energy economy, scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg were already developing ways to tap sources of renewable energy – in particular the sun. This dedication to renewables over many years has now been recognized in the form of the Zayed Future Energy Prize 2014. Awarded to Fraunhofer ISE on January 20, 2014, the prize is endowed with 1.5 million US dollars. Prizewinners are selected on the basis of the degree to which they bring about a tangible change in industry, society and the environment, their impact as a leader and role model, and the viability and innovative potential of their organization.
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President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft receives honorary doctorate from Czech Technical University in Prague

Jan 21, 2014: Prof. Reimund Neugebauer, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, has been awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the Czech Technical University in Prague. He received this distinction in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of machine tools and mechatronics, especially with regard to resource-efficient production, as well as for his dedicated involvement in networking TU Prague with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and TU Chemnitz.
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The Fraunhofer HHI together with other contributing institutions and companies wins the Emmy

Jan 17, 2014: The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Emmy is a very prestigious award for excellence in television in America, and this year an Emmy Award in the Technology & Engineering category has been given to the Motion Picture Experts Group – MPEG – for the development of the MPEG-2 Transport Stream standard.
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