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September 5
- ‘Wonder Material’ for Future Electronics with New Potential
➀ Researchers observed Floquet states in graphene using femtosecond-pulse microscopy, confirming Floquet engineering's applicability in metallic/semi-metallic materials;
➁ This breakthrough enables precise control of electronic states in quantum materials, advancing potential technologies like robust quantum computers and sensors;
➂ Funded by the German Research Foundation, the study opens pathways for tailoring material properties to shape future electronics and high-performance computing.
- Quantum Computing – Challenge and Opportunity for Scientific High-Performance Computing
➀ The ZKI Autumn Conference 2025 at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) explores the future of data processing, focusing on quantum computing, AI hardware, and photonic computing paradigms;
➀ IBM's Dr. Heike Riel highlights efforts to advance quantum technologies, AI physics, and novel computing frameworks;
➀ The LRZ pioneers energy-efficient photonic AI computing using Q.ANT's analog photonic server, positioning Germany as a leader in post-CMOS technologies.
September 4
- ERC Starting Grant for Junior Professor Stefan Mönch – Towards Almost Lossless Electrical Energy Conversion
➀ Junior Professor Stefan Mönch at the University of Stuttgart has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant of €1.5 million to research highly efficient electrical energy conversion technologies;
➁ The project focuses on partial power processing (PPP) converters and multilevel converters to minimize energy losses in applications like electromobility and solid-state heat pumps, achieving efficiencies over 99%;
➂ Research explores cascading topologies and optimal voltage levels to extend applications to smart materials, soft robotics, and energy harvesting, supported by collaborations in projects like GaN4EmoBiL and COOLPOL.
- ERC Starting Grant for Junior Professor Stefan Mönch – Towards Nearly Lossless Electrical Energy Conversion
➀ Dr. Stefan Mönch received a €1.5 million ERC Starting Grant to advance research on near-lossless electrical energy conversion using Partial-Power Processing (PPP) and multilevel converters, aiming to minimize energy losses in voltage transformations.
➁ The research targets applications like electromobility and solid-state heat pumps (using eco-friendly electrocaloric materials) and explores optimizing voltage stages and cascading topologies to maximize efficiency, building on GaN semiconductor expertise from prior projects.
➂ The project also investigates energy harvesting and smart materials for soft robotics, with potential to significantly enhance sustainable energy systems and reduce environmental impact.
- Fraunhofer ISE Develops Test Procedure for Grid-Forming Inverters
➀ Fraunhofer ISE developed a standardized test procedure for grid-forming inverters in collaboration with German transmission system operators to assess their role in stabilizing power grids during renewable energy integration;
➁ The tests evaluated seven manufacturers' inverters (ranging from kW to MW scale), revealing significant behavioral variations under simulated grid stress scenarios and providing optimization insights;
➂ Project outcomes informed European standardization efforts, including the VDE FNN guidelines, and support future certification for grid-forming technologies ahead of 2026 market incentives.
- Paul Motzki receives one of Europe's most prestigious research grants to develop innovative cooling systems
➀ Professor Paul Motzki at Saarland University secured an ERC Starting Grant (€1.5 million) to advance elastocaloric cooling technology, combining shape memory alloys and dielectric elastomer actuators;
➁ The eco-friendly elastocaloric method uses nickel-titanium alloys for heating/cooling without harmful refrigerants, achieving 20°C temperature differentials, with potential for multi-stage systems;
➂ Motzki’s team also leads EU projects like the EIC Pathfinder (prototype air conditioning) and SmiLE (smart medical implants), leveraging AI for sensor-free actuator control and innovative cooling applications.
- Paul Motzki Receives One of Europe's Most Prestigious Research Awards for Innovative Cooling Systems
➀ Prof. Paul Motzki was awarded the ERC Starting Grant to develop elastocaloric cooling systems using shape memory alloys and dielectric elastomer films, aiming for compact, eco-friendly solutions;
➁ The technology, with potential applications in residential and automotive cooling, achieves temperature differentials of 20°C and is part of EU-funded projects like EIC Pathfinder;
➂ Motzki’s team is integrating silicone film actuators and AI-driven controls to advance energy-efficient, sensor-free cooling and heating prototypes.
- Even Smarter: Fraunhofer IWU and Fraunhofer IIS Introduce New Generation of smartTOOL Tool Holder
➀ The new-generation smartTOOL features enhanced sensors and electronics for monitoring process forces and vibrations in all directions, with sampling rates up to 10 kHz for high-frequency detection;
➁ Its compact, robust design reduces space by 25%, supports multiple spindle geometries, and uses wireless energy harvesting for autonomous operation without external power;
➂ Integrated with the AI-driven ECC4P Edge Cloud system, it enables real-time production monitoring and automation, debuting at EMO Hannover 2025.
August 1
- Dr.-Ing. Ronny Tobias Zimmermann Awarded the Max Planck Society's Otto Hahn Medal
➀ Dr.-Ing. Ronny Tobias Zimmermann received the Otto Hahn Medal for his research on reactor and catalyst pellet designs enabling flexible chemical energy storage via Power-to-X processes;
➁ His work developed core-shell catalyst pellets that prevent temperature spikes under dynamic renewable energy conditions, maintaining high product yield without requiring reactor modifications;
➂ The innovation offers an economically viable solution for large-scale energy storage, with Zimmermann currently leading a research group at the Max Planck Institute in Magdeburg.
- HiQ-CARB Project: More Sustainable Conductive Carbon Additives for Lithium-Ion Batteries
➀ The HiQ-CARB project developed sustainable conductive additives (carbon nanotubes and bio-based acetylene black) to reduce CO₂ emissions in lithium-ion batteries, replacing fossil-based materials;
➁ The additives improved battery performance, reduced material usage, and were validated in production by partners like Fraunhofer ISC and CustomCells, enabling lighter and more cost-effective batteries;
➂ Life cycle analysis confirmed a 50% lower CO₂ footprint compared to conventional methods, supporting Europe's transition to eco-friendly battery manufacturing and electric mobility.
- Real-Time Measuring Method Extends Lifespan and Enhances Safety of Batteries
➀ Fraunhofer IFAM developed dynamic impedance spectroscopy for real-time monitoring of battery status during operation, improving safety and lifespan;
➁ The method enables immediate detection of overheating in electric vehicle batteries and optimizes charging strategies, reducing wear;
➂ Applications extend to renewable energy storage and safety-critical sectors like aviation, supporting diverse battery technologies, including solid-state and sodium-ion.
- Listening for Damage to Wind Turbines
➀ Fraunhofer IIS and IWES developed an acoustic sensor system with a specialized chip to remotely detect rotor blade damage in wind turbines, reducing costly inspections.
➁ The chip captures structural sound anomalies, transmits minimal data via mobile networks, and enables real-time monitoring, optimizing maintenance for offshore wind farms.
➂ Future upgrades aim to detect lightning strikes, enhancing reliability and supporting the energy transition through improved turbine durability.
- Detecting Damage in Wind Turbines via Acoustic Sensing
➀ Fraunhofer IIS and IWES developed a chip-based acoustic sensor system to remotely monitor internal damages (e.g., cracks) in wind turbine blades, reducing costly offshore maintenance;
➁ The solution captures structural sound waves via body sensors, identifies damage-specific acoustic patterns, and transmits only critical data via mobile networks for low-bandwidth efficiency;
➂ The ongoing project expands the system to detect lightning strikes, building on prior prototypes to enhance offshore wind farm reliability and optimize maintenance.
- Sustainable Mobility: Getting There Faster With AI
➀ Fraunhofer IOSB and partners developed an AI system for predicting shared mobility availability, improving intermodal transportation planning with real-time and historical data;
➁ The AI integrates into the GBFS standard, enabling routing apps to offer optimized, eco-friendly route suggestions combining public transit, bikes, and e-scooters;
➂ A public study showed 90% of users find AI predictions helpful, with 20% willing to reduce car usage, highlighting AI's role in advancing sustainable mobility.
- Sustainable Mobility: Faster to the Destination with AI
➀ The Fraunhofer Institute and partners developed an AI-based system in the DAKIMO project to predict availability of shared vehicles (e-bikes, scooters) and integrate intermodal route planning via apps;
➁ The system extends the global GBFS data standard to include AI-driven availability forecasts, aiming to simplify sustainable travel by combining public transport and shared mobility;
➂ A study shows 90% of users find the AI predictions helpful, and 20% would switch from private cars to public options, supporting climate goals.
- A Less Debilitating Approach to Cancer Diagnosis
➀ Fraunhofer researchers developed a multimodal imaging method combining X-ray and radar technologies to reduce radiation exposure in diagnosing breast and lung cancers;
➁ The approach co-registers X-ray and radar data, enhances image quality through reconstruction algorithms, and integrates radar data into CT scans to lower radiation doses and artifacts;
➂ The project aims to establish a lab system for accurate, low-radiation cancer diagnosis, funded by Fraunhofer with participation from multiple institutes.
- Gentler Cancer Diagnosis: Fraunhofer Combines X-ray and Radar for Safer Imaging
➀ Fraunhofer researchers develop a multimodal imaging method combining X-ray CT and radar to reduce radiation exposure in breast and lung cancer diagnosis;
➁ Radar provides 3D tissue imaging without radiation by analyzing electrical conductivity, complementing X-ray data for higher precision and artifact reduction;
➂ A three-year project aims to create a lab prototype for early, low-radiation detection of tissue changes, involving Fraunhofer EMI, MEVIS, and FHR institutes.
- European XFEL Heated to Room Temperature for Major Maintenance and Upgrades for the First Time
➀ The European XFEL’s superconducting linear accelerator, operating at -271°C for over 8 years, has been gradually warmed to room temperature for mandatory maintenance and upgrades, marking its first such shutdown since installation;
➁ Planned work includes replacing helium valves, installing a new electron source, and preparing for superconducting undulators to enhance X-ray intensity and enable nanometer-scale research, with operations set to resume in early 2026;
➂ The upgrade supports the facility’s 2032 development strategy, which aims to expand experimental capabilities for global researchers studying atomic structures and ultrafast processes using the world’s most powerful X-ray laser.
- HiQ-CARB Project: Sustainable Conductive Carbon Additives for Lithium-Ion Batteries
➀ The EU-funded HiQ-CARB project developed sustainable conductive additives (carbon nanotubes and acetylene black) for lithium-ion batteries, reducing CO₂ emissions and material usage;
➁ The additives improved battery performance, seamlessly integrated into existing production processes, and demonstrated a 50% lower carbon footprint compared to conventional materials;
➂ Partners like Fraunhofer ISC and CustomCells validated scalability, with life-cycle analysis confirming environmental benefits and Europe’s shift toward greener battery manufacturing.
July 31
- RoboCup in Brazil: CERI Team Wins Vice World Champion Title
➀ The CERI team from THWS secured second place in the @Work-League at RoboCup 2025, facing logistical challenges including complex robot transportation and last-minute technical adjustments;
➁ The competition tested autonomous robotics in industrial tasks, with SWOT excelling in precision and object recognition despite transport-induced electrical issues;
➂ German teams dominated the event, and Nuremberg was announced as the 2027 host, highlighting global collaboration and enthusiasm among participants and spectators.
- Success in the DFG Reinhart-Koselleck Program: TU Dresden Prof. Czarske Secures Prestigious Research Funding
➀ Prof. Jürgen Czarske's team at TU Dresden secured €1.5M funding through the DFG's Reinhart-Koselleck program for a 5-year project on physics-informed deep learning in fiber-optic security transmission;
➁ The project aims to address AI's explainability challenges and high energy consumption while developing energy-efficient optical neural networks for applications like secure communication and quantum computing;
➂ Innovations focus on combining data-driven AI with physical models to enable real-time light scattering measurements and reduce reliance on power-intensive GPUs.
July 3
- New Production Process for Metal-Polymer Current Collectors
➀ Fraunhofer FEP developed a roll-to-roll production method to create metal-polymer current collectors, replacing conventional metal foils with polymer substrates coated in copper/aluminum layers, improving battery energy density and safety;
➁ The novel collectors interrupt current flow during short circuits by melting the polymer layer, preventing thermal runaway, and use gas-cooled rollers for heat management during high-speed processing;
➂ Prototype pouch cells with these collectors matched traditional cells in performance tests, demonstrating industrial feasibility for next-gen lithium-ion batteries.
- Cooperation Between BBS Technik Cloppenburg and the Private University of Business and Technology Vechta/Diepholz
➀ BBS Technik Cloppenburg and PHWT signed a cooperation agreement, enabling vocational students in mechatronics to earn credits for a dual study program in mechatronics/electrical engineering;
➁ Future collaborations include joint laboratory projects at PHWT Diepholz and an innovative IT module with BBZ Diepholz;
➂ PHWT offers schools campus visits, guest lectures, and STEM programs like the 'MINT-Uni' to promote technical education and dual studies.
- HTW Berlin Home Storage Ranking: New Top Performers in the 5-Kilowatt Class
➀ HTW Berlin updated its energy storage evaluation tool with new test results for SMA and SAX Power systems, both achieving over 92.8% System Performance Index (SPI) in the 5kW category;
➁ SMA's Home Storage 6.5 leverages silicon carbide semiconductors for 96% efficiency, while SAX Power increased charging power to 3.4kW, optimizing solar energy storage;
➂ The 2026 evaluation is open for manufacturer participation until November 2025, aiming to enhance transparency in the home storage market.
- “HelpFix” – A Robot as a Guide Dog for the Blind
➀ A team from Hochschule Kaiserslautern and ENSISA Mulhouse won the Trinatronics competition with "HelpFix," a low-cost robot guide dog that uses natural language processing and autonomous navigation to assist visually impaired individuals;
➁ Developed in 7 months under €500 via agile methods, the project combined mechatronics expertise from German and French universities;
➂ Competing against innovations like AI-powered hockey trainers and water-quality drones, HelpFix claimed the top prize (€1,500), with plans to explore open-source or commercialization pathways.
July 2
- Construction Manuals for Affordable and AI-Capable Drones
➀ Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences is developing low-cost, customizable AI-enabled drones using off-the-shelf components and open software modules for education and research;
➁ Funded by hessian.AI, the project aims to bridge the gap between high technical demands and limited budgets, enabling practical learning and innovative applications in fields like computer science, engineering, and environmental studies;
➂ Detailed construction guides will be published under a free license to encourage community collaboration and expand use cases in IoT, autonomous navigation, and interdisciplinary research.
- Fraunhofer FHR's Wachtberg-Forum: Radar in Focus for Security and Defense
➀ The Fraunhofer FHR Wachtberg-Forum highlighted radar technology's critical role in military and civilian security across land, sea, air, and space, with Bundeswehr Space Command emphasizing space domain awareness;
➁ A strategic partnership with Quantum Systems was announced, advancing drone-based surveillance and radar innovation for defense applications;
➂ The event showcased cognitive RF systems, experimental radar technologies, and interdisciplinary collaboration to address evolving global security challenges.
- Distance Learning Students at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences Celebrate Their Graduation
➀ Eleven graduates from the distance learning Master's programs in Electrical Engineering (M.Sc.) and Reliability Engineering (M.Eng.) celebrated their graduation at a ceremony in Darmstadt, attended by faculty and family;
➁ The programs, offered by Hochschule Darmstadt and Technische Hochschule Aschaffenburg in collaboration with zfh, emphasize career advancement in technical and leadership roles;
➂ Speakers highlighted the challenges of balancing work and study, commending graduates as role models for perseverance and professional growth.
- TU Dresden's Hans Kleemann Awarded 2025 Joachim Herz Prize for Pioneering Biotech Research in Fossil-Free Electronics
➀ Dr. Hans Kleemann of TU Dresden received the 2025 Joachim Herz Prize (€500,000) for his bio-based, recyclable circuit board research under the "UnbeLEAFable" project, aiming to replace conventional electronics components with sustainable alternatives inspired by leaf vascular structures;
➁ The innovation combines biodegradable bioplastics and natural leaf skeletons to create eco-friendly printed circuit boards (PCBs), reducing fossil fuel dependency and enabling efficient recycling of electronic waste, which accounts for 62 million tons annually;
➂ The funding addresses the "Valley of Death" in product development, bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application, with potential to revolutionize the electronics industry toward a circular economy.
July 1
- Students from Stralsund University Win One of the World's Largest Energy Efficiency Competitions
➀ The ThaiGer-H2-Racing team from Hochschule Stralsund secured the European championship at the Shell Eco-Marathon 2025, achieving a record 1,024 km/m³ efficiency in the hydrogen fuel cell category.
➁ Their second team, Bengalo Racing, ranked 7th in the Urban Concept electric vehicle category with a 21 km/kWh improvement, showcasing advancements in practical automotive design.
➂ This marks the university's seventh title in the competition since 2008, outperforming teams from Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, and other European countries.