Press Releases

Press Releases 2015

 

Fraunhofer and the University of Auckland to co-develop a bionic elbow joint

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the University of Auckland in New Zealand will work hand in hand for the next three years on a project to develop a novel arm orthosis for elbows – the “Bionic Joint”. The kick-off meeting for the international project was held on December 1 at the Fraunhofer-Forum Berlin. It was attended by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, Professor Reimund Neugebauer, president of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, and Dr Urs Schneider, project manager at the Fraunhofer IPA in Stuttgart, who together presented the research collabo-ration.
 

Top 100 Global Innovators 2015

The media group Thomson Reuters honored Fraunhofer as one of the »Top 100 Global Innovators« in 2015.
 

»NeuroLab« - Human-Computer-Collaboration

What goes on in the human brain has fascinated neuroscientists for decades. Fraunhofer IAO’s newly opened NeuroLab has been built specifically to study what happens in the brain when people use technical devices. Based on these insights, the scientists plan to develop human-computer technologies that recognize users’ mental and emotional states and adapt automatically to their individual needs.
 

And they're off! Today's youth designs the automobile of the future

For more than ten years now Open Roberta has been encouraging youthful enthusiasm for technology. The initiative "Germany – The Land of Ideas" ("Deutschland – Land der Ideen") has recognized the Fraunhofer project "Open Roberta – Learning Programming Playfully" for its work. Now Roberta is once again drawing on the inspired ideas of young people: Secondary school students can contribute their own ideas in a competition on designing a self-driving car.
 

Two Fraunhofer projects among the winners on the EARTO Innovation Award competition 2015

The final judging for the Innovation Prize of the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO) took place in Brussels on October 14. Among the six finalists were two Fraunhofer projects: the awiloc® technology for secure positioning in wireless networks, developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS and also the SkinHeal project for the improved treatment of chronic wounds, coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC. An independent jury selected projects that have the potential to trigger social or economic change.

Fraunhofer signs MoUs with Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises and HMT Limited – Partnering at Indo-German Summit "Digitising Tomorrow Together"

Bangalore: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has signed several Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Heavy Industries Government of India and HMT Limited on 05th October 2015 in the presence of the two dignitaries, Hon’ble Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, and Hon’ble Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India in Delhi. The MoUs signed throw light on the Indo-German trade that spans over 500 years and strengthen the basis for strong business and economic ties between the two countries.
 

Machines communicate by using infrared light

A distinguishing feature of industry 4.0 is the large amount of data generated when production processes are linked. Previously, data streams were sent primarily by cable, but this method is cumbersome when used in industrial processes and the cables are also prone to wear and tear. Transferring data using a wireless LAN is not a viable alternative because it is not fast enough. To solve this problem, engineers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS have developed a module that transmits data rapidly and securely using infrared light.
 

Fraunhofer initiative for secure data space launched

2015.09.25: The third top-level discussion on the Industrial Data Space was held at the Fraunhofer-Forum Berlin on September 23. The goal of the initiative is to enable companies to securely exchange and combine data. It helps companies make their production and business processes fit for digitalization, thus creating a foundation for business model innovation. The Industrial Data Space concept is aimed at establishing comprehensive, cross-sector connectivity in an open data space. This will make it easier for companies to utilize the potential of digitalization in their business models without relinquishing control over their data.
 

Scientist of Fraunhofer ENAS has been appointed Associate Professor at WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research of the Tohoku University Sendai, Japan

2015.09.09: As from 1 August 2015 Dr. Jörg Frömel, former deputy head of the department System Packaging of Fraunhofer ENAS, was appointed Associate Professor at WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research of the Tohoku University Sendai, Japan. He received the certificate of appointment on 4 August 2015 from the hands of the director of WPI-AIMR, Prof. Mrs. Motoko Kotani.
 

High Speed Internet from the Ceiling Lamp

In the future, people will be able to surf the web using light – quickly, inexpensively, and entirely without radio communication – thanks to a technology Fraunhofer scientists have been researching for years: visible light communication (VLC).
 

Wireless charging and discharging for electric vehicles

2015.08.31: In the future, a wireless charging system will allow electric cars not only to charge their batteries, but also to feed energy back into the power grid, helping to stabilize it. The cost-effective charging system achieves high levels of efficiency across the whole power range, from 400 watts to 3.6 kilowatts, while the car and the charging coil can be up to 20 centimeters apart. Fraunhofer researchers are presenting their prototype from September 15 to 18, 2015 at the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt (Hall 4, Booth D33).

 

Fraunhofer Prize Human-Centered Technology: Plasma makes wounds heal quicker

2015.06.09: Many people suffer from skin disorders. Open wounds are a particularly acute problem, especially among the elderly. Working in collaboration with the company Cinogy and the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology at the University Medical Center Göttingen, the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST has successfully developed a new medical technology solution for treating wounds and skin disorders known as »PlasmaDerm«. Prof. Wolfgang Viöl, Dr. Andreas Helmke, Prof. Steffen Emmert and Dr. Dirk Wandke jointly accepted the Fraunhofer Prize Human-Centered Technology for their development of PlasmaDerm.
 

Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize 2015: A concert hall for on the move

2015.06.09: Researchers have developed new audio software that creates a natural three-dimensional sound. Whether you‘re listening on your smartphone or in the car, it feels like you’re right there in the concert hall. For the development and market launch of Cingo and Symphoria, Oliver Hellmuth, Jan Plogsties and Harald Popp of the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS are recipients of the 2015 Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize.
 

Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize 2015: Natural rubber from dandelions

2015.06.09: Dandelions are modest plants that are an excellent alternative source for a raw material of high demand: natural rubber, the fundamental ingredient in rubber products. Fraunhofer researchers have established the basis for the large-scale production of high quality rubber with Russian dandelion. For their work on the Russian dandelion and its application as a source of natural rubber, Prof. Dirk Prüfer, Dr. Christian Schulze Gronover of the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME in Aachen and Dr. Carla Recker of Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH are recipients of the 2015 Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize.
 

Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize 2015: Diamond-like coatings save fuel

2015.06.09: Coating engine components with hard carbon reduces friction to almost zero – a development that could save billions of liters of fuel worldwide every year. Prof. Andreas Leson, Dr. Hans-Joachim Scheibe and Dr. Volker Weihnacht of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden received the 2015 Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize for the development of the laser arc method and the application of ta-C coatings in volume production.
 

Recreating Natural Light in the Lab – Research on Light at the Fraunhofer Light Fusion Lab

In the Light Fusion Lab at Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO in Stuttgart, researchers are working to optimize artificial lighting and make it as close to natural light as possible. The research results are used to derive recommendations for healthy lighting and optimum working conditions.
 

Video coding research recognized by ITU150 Award

2015.05.18: The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recognized the video coding work that resulted in the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC and H.265/MPEG-H HEVC video coding standards as one of the most influential information and communication technologie (ICT) innovations of our time. Thomas Wiegand, Professor at TU Berlin and Executive Director of Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute, accepted on behalf of the team the prestigious ITU150 award at the ITU 150-year anniversary celebration event that took place on Sunday, 17 May, in Geneva.
 

Green Tec Award 2015

2015.04.27: Since most foam materials are made of petrochemical plastics, they aren’t very climate-friendly. But now an alternative is in sight – a novel foam material produced entirely from wood, which is not harmful to the environment and is also recyclable. In the long term, wood foam could replace conventional products used for thermal insulation, packaging and lightweight construction.
 

Care-O-bot® – The Service Robot

2015.04: Whether they’re serving drinks or carrying heavy loads, in a few years’ time , mobile robots could be helping in our homes. Engineers have developed a new model of universal helper – the fourth generation of the Care-O-bot®. This robot may also serve as the basis for commercial service robot solutions.
 

Cooperation Agreement between Fraunhofer IPA and OMTRI

2015.03.13: Fraunhofer IPA concluded an agreement to start a cooperation in the field of printed electronics with Osaka Municipal Technical Research Institute OMTRI on March 13, 2015.
 

International Year of Light 2015

2015.02.27: 27th February signalled the start of the year of light 2015, proclaimed by the UNESCO. In science, light is the basis for various applications: It transfers data, produces energy, serves as laser tools, creates as OLED alternate lighting solutions and enables new medical treatments. For many Fraunhofer institutes light is the main focus of their research.
 

Science Year 2015 – City of the Future

Fraunhofer researchers are working on the idea of sustainable, livable and future-oriented cities. »Morgenstadt« is a vision of a innovative city of the future and its suburban surroundings.