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June 2
- TH Deggendorf Supports Automotive Degree Program in Tunisia
➀ A new automotive-focused degree program was launched at École Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sousses (ENISo) in Tunisia, supported by DRÄXLMAIER Group, TH Deggendorf (THD), and GIZ;
➁ The program aligns with international technological education standards, preparing engineers for current and future automotive-sector challenges;
➂ Funded under Germany's develoPPP initiative, it aims to promote sustainable growth and employment in Africa through academic-industry collaboration.
- European Summit of Metrology Experts: EURAMET General Assembly Convenes in Berlin Hosted by PTB
➀ The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) hosts the EURAMET General Assembly in Berlin, emphasizing metrology's role in technological progress;
➁ Discussions focus on AI, quantum technologies, and digital transformation, aiming to strengthen European competitiveness through reliable measurements;
➂ The assembly underscores the need for European solidarity to address global challenges and maintain high standards in the face of geopolitical shifts.
- Summit of Measurement Experts: EURAMET General Assembly Convenes in Berlin, Hosted by PTB
➀ European metrology experts gather at the EURAMET General Assembly hosted by PTB to address the role of precise measurements in emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing;
➁ The event underscores the importance of pan-European collaboration in metrology research to maintain competitiveness amid global rivalry with the US and China;
➂ PTB’s Dr. Annette Röttger highlights the need to develop standardized measurement methods for new technologies, ensuring Europe’s leadership in innovation and industrial quality.
- Innovative Thin-Film Sensor Technology Enables Automated Real-Time Quality Control in Plastic Injection Molding
➀ Fraunhofer IST developed a thin-film sensor system integrated into injection molds for real-time monitoring of temperature and pressure during plastic manufacturing;
➁ Machine learning algorithms on edge devices analyze sensor data to detect defects instantly and adjust processes before mold release, enabling rapid quality control;
➂ The wear-resistant sensors support sustainable production by allowing recycled materials and high fiber-content plastics to be used efficiently.
- Using Artificial Intelligence to Detect Changes in Lung Tumors with Greater Speed and Precision
➀ Fraunhofer MEVIS developed an AI-based software to enhance lung tumor monitoring via CT scans, improving diagnostic accuracy and efficiency;
➁ The AI detects 11% more tumors compared to conventional methods, processes data in under a second, and reduces computational energy consumption;
➂ Successfully integrated into clinical practice, the tool aims to expand to full-body monitoring, enabling faster treatment adjustments and patient recovery.
- Detecting Changes in Lung Tumors Faster and More Precisely Thanks to Artificial Intelligence
➀ Fraunhofer MEVIS developed a deep-learning-based software to automatically compare CT scans of lung tumors, improving accuracy and speed in tracking disease progression and treatment effects;
➁ The AI-driven solution detects 11% more tumors and processes images in under a second, reducing clinician workload and enabling timely therapy adjustments;
➂ Clinically validated, the tool aims to expand to full-body applications, enhancing patient outcomes and reducing unnecessary costs.
- Improved Protection Against Missile Attacks
➀ Fraunhofer IOSB is developing satellite-based electro-optical sensors to detect missile launches early, enhancing defense response times.
➁ The sensors use infrared technology to identify missile exhaust plumes, enabling faster countermeasures and simulations via MATISSE software for accuracy.
➂ Algorithms minimize false alarms by analyzing heat signatures, with systems already tested on ERNST satellite and geostationary projects with Airbus Defence and Space.
- Better Protection Against Missile Attacks
➀ Fraunhofer IOSB develops satellite-based electro-optical sensors to detect missile launches via infrared signals, enabling faster countermeasures; ➁ The system combines IR cameras, intelligent algorithms, and optimized spectral bands to address environmental factors like atmospheric conditions and background noise; ➂ Simulations using MATISSE software validate sensor performance, while collaborations with Airbus aim to deploy geostationary Earth observation systems.
- Laser Sources of the Future: the Key to Technological Sovereignty
➀ Germany's laser industry faces supply chain risks due to dependence on rare-earth elements from third countries, jeopardizing technological sovereignty;
➁ Fraunhofer Institute researches alternative laser crystals, nonlinear optical materials, and fiber optics to enhance self-reliance, including novel crystal growth methods and damage threshold measurement technologies;
➂ Applications span quantum tech, medical systems, and defense, with innovations in short/mid-infrared fiber lasers and customized optical components showcased at LASER 2025 trade fair.
- Laser Sources of the Future: the Key to Technological Sovereignty
➀ Fraunhofer Institute is addressing Germany's dependency on imported rare-earth elements by developing alternative laser crystals and fibers to ensure technological sovereignty;
➁ Researchers focus on optimizing crystal quality, damage thresholds, and fiber laser design to enhance performance in applications ranging from quantum tech to medical devices;
➂ Innovations in non-linear optics (NLO) and material processing will be showcased at the LASER trade show in Munich, highlighting solutions for supply chain resilience.
- Lasers of the Future: Key to Technological Sovereignty
➀ Germany faces challenges in laser technology due to reliance on rare earths and crystals from third countries, exacerbated by export restrictions and geopolitical tensions;
➁ Fraunhofer Institute (IOSB) develops alternative solutions through advanced crystal growth, nonlinear optical materials, and fiber laser technologies to ensure supply chain independence;
➂ Innovations include improved crystal processing techniques, fiber optics for infrared applications, and robustness testing, showcased at LASER 2025 trade fair in Munich.
- Cognitive Robotics and New Safety Technologies for Human-Robot Collaboration
➀ Fraunhofer IFF developed AI-driven cognitive robots capable of handling complex industrial tasks and introduced PARU safety tech for dynamic workspace monitoring, ensuring compliance with ISO/TS 15066 standards;
➁ Researchers trained AI models via simulations using domain randomization to bridge the Sim2Real gap, enabling adaptability to real-world conditions;
➂ The CAS software package integrates safety solutions for human-robot collaboration, including risk assessment tools and biomechanical data from human trials to optimize robot speed and compliance.
- Cognitive Robotics and New Safety Technologies for Human-Robot Collaboration
➀ Fraunhofer IFF researchers developed AI-driven cognitive robotics to automate complex manufacturing tasks, enabling robots to adapt to unstructured environments and learn via simulations with domain randomization;
➁ The team introduced PARU, a patented safety system using projection and cameras for real-time workspace monitoring, and CAS software tools for risk assessment and compliance in human-robot collaboration;
➂ These innovations, including dynamic safety adjustments and pain-threshold-based speed limits, will be demonstrated at automatica 2025 to enhance trust and efficiency in industrial and care applications.
March 31
- Intelligent Wearable: Precise Health Measurements Directly in the Ear
➀ The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has developed the open-source platform 'OpenEarable';
➁ This platform integrates a variety of sensors in wireless headphones for comprehensive health measurements and security applications;
➂ OpenEarable 2.0 allows developers to create customized software with over 30 physiological parameters measurable directly in the ear.
- Hochschule Koblenz: First KickStart Team Files Patent for Innovative Payment Solution BEZLAD
➀ The first KickStart team at Hochschule Koblenz has achieved a significant milestone by successfully filing a patent for an innovative payment solution called BEZLAD.
➁ Developed by Daniel Funk, Micha Bär, Marcel Klee, in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Udo Gnasa and patent attorney Hans-Peter Müller, BEZLAD enables easy management and billing of private charging processes for electric vehicles.
➂ The university supported the project in various ways, including covering the costs of the patent application and providing access to expertise from the startup office and the StartUpLab.
- New Cryostat Installations Bring Qubit Research Up to Date
The Center Nanoelectronic Technologies (CNT) at the Fraunhofer IPMS has recently acquired new cryostats for researching qubits and qualifying superconductor systems. These low-temperature measurement devices, particularly useful for analyzing quantum systems, have been fully operational since March. The facilities were supported by the Saxony State Ministry of Science, Culture, and Tourism.
Quantum computing is expected to play a central role in research in the future, especially in medicine, material development, and traffic planning. Qubits, storage components for developing complex quantum mechanical systems, are versatile but fragile and prone to errors. Superconducting chips or circuits stabilize the fragile qubit states but require cooling down to the millikelvin range.
To ultimately realize a complex system like a quantum computer, all other technical components, such as circuits, memory chips, or thermal isolation components, must also function under these temperatures. The cryostats at CNT enable testing of various structures, materials, and circuits under these extremely cold conditions.
- Deeper Understanding: Transport Resistance Limits the Performance of Organic Solar Cells
➀ Researchers at the Chemnitz University of Technology are studying the efficiency of organic solar cells;
➁ The slow current flow in organic solar cells is due to the disordered structure of the light-absorbing layers;
➂ Transport resistance, caused by slow charge carriers, reduces the fill factor and power output of the solar cells.
- Fraunhofer HHI and NICT Unveil Groundbreaking International Optical Testbed Data Space to Enable AI/ML-Driven Networks
Fraunhofer HHI and NICT launch the Optical Testbed Dataspace (OTDS) to accelerate the development and testing of AI and ML models for optical networks. The platform fosters global collaboration by securely sharing testbed data, addressing challenges in dataset availability and enhancing network optimization and automation.
OTDS uses the Eclipse Dataspace Components Connector (EDCC) and aligns with the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA) principles, ensuring data sovereignty and export control compliance.
The technology has been successfully demonstrated through a prototype for international data exchange between Berlin and Sendai, and is set to be showcased at the OFC conference.
- Breakthrough for AI/ML-driven Networks: Fraunhofer HHI and NICT Present Optical Testbed Data Space
➀ The Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institut (HHI) and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) present the Optical Testbed Dataspace (OTDS) to accelerate the development and testing of AI and ML for optical communication networks.
➁ OTDS provides a secure space for international data exchange, offering new perspectives for optimizing and automating communication networks globally.
➂ The platform is based on the Eclipse Dataspace Components Connector (EDCC) and aligns with the principles of the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA), enabling secure and controlled data exchange in line with international standards.
March 28
- New Book for (Prospective) Engineers: »Statistical Machine Learning for Engineering with Applications«
➀ The book, 'Statistical Machine Learning for Engineering with Applications,' is published by Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Franke.
➁ It aims to provide an accessible introduction to Machine Learning concepts and methods.
➂ The book includes detailed case studies from various industrial projects, focusing on practical applications and interpretation of Machine Learning methods.
- New Book for Engineers: 'Statistical Machine Learning for Engineering with Applications'
➀ The book 'Statistical Machine Learning for Engineering with Applications' is published by Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Franke, providing an accessible introduction to the concepts and methods of machine learning.
➁ The book aims to familiarize readers with basic topics like classification trees, Bayesian learning, neural networks, and deep learning, emphasizing practical applications and interpretation over mathematical details.
➂ It includes several detailed case studies based on real industrial projects, covering a wide range of technical applications from vehicle manufacturing to process and material technology, and process optimization through image analysis.
- Hannover Messe: Smart Textiles and Surfaces – How Lightweight Elastomer Films Are Bringing Tech to Life
➀ Saarland University researchers are developing lightweight elastomer films for smart textiles, touch displays, and speakers with haptic feedback.
➁ These films can be precisely controlled to vibrate, flex, press, or pull using electrical voltage.
➂ The research focuses on creating more efficient, stable, sensitive, and responsive smart film actuators.
March 27
- Contactless Timing for Paralympic Swimming
➀ A student at the University of Applied Sciences in Hagen, Melanie Welp, has developed a contactless timing system for Paralympic swimming to prevent injury from head impacts.
➁ The prototype uses an ultrasonic sensor to measure the time at six meters and 50 centimeters before the edge of the pool.
➂ The system has been tested and shown to be possible without causing injury to swimmers.
- A Lighter, Smarter Magnetoreceptive Electronic Skin
➀ A research team at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) has developed an e-skin that detects and tracks magnetic fields with high precision.
➁ The technology is designed to be light, transparent, and permeable, mimicking the human skin's interactions with the brain.
➂ The e-skin uses a magnetosensitive layer as a global sensor to localize magnetic signals and is capable of reconstructing signals similar to how the human brain processes touch.
- Electronic Skin with Magnetic Sense Becomes Slimmer and Smarter
➀ A research team led by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) has developed an electronic skin capable of sensing and tracking magnetic fields with a single global sensor. This technology could enable new applications in virtual reality and underwater smartphone interaction.
➁ The e-skin is lightweight, transparent, and breathable, imitating the interaction between real skin and the brain. It uses a magnetosensitive functional layer as a global sensor surface, improving energy efficiency and mimicking real skin's functionality.
➂ The technology uses tomography, a method also used in medical MRI or CT scans, to reconstruct the position of signals, making it suitable for applications in robotics and human-machine interaction.
March 26
- HSBI Students Optimize Cocktail Machine – 'Caipi' as a Mechatronics Task at Gütersloh Campus
➀ Students from HSBI's Mechatronics/Automation program at the Gütersloh campus have developed a cocktail machine capable of mixing Caipirinha, complete with a lemon press and crushed ice production.
➁ The intuitive machine meets industrial standards for food hygiene and safety.
➂ The project showcases the practical applications of mechatronics and automation technology in the real world.
- FEDERATE Supports Implementation of EU Industrial Action Plan for European Automotive Sector
➀ The European Commission announced the 'Industrial Action Plan for the European Automotive Sector' to address challenges such as international competition and software-defined vehicles (SDV).
➁ The FEDERATE project will coordinate the 'Software-Defined Vehicle of the Future Initiative' to support the plan's implementation.
➂ The Chips Joint Undertaking will fund three calls for proposals focusing on RISC-V automotive hardware, heterogeneous integration, and AI-based software engineering methods.
- Fraunhofer Recommendations for Climate-Neutral Industry: Investments in Energy Infrastructure and Renewable Energies
➀ The Fraunhofer CINES excellence cluster provides recommendations for achieving a climate-neutral industry in Germany by 2045;
➁ Emphasis on the role of electricity and hydrogen as central energy carriers and the importance of energy infrastructure development;
➂ Discusses the challenges and opportunities for cost-effective and competitive energy systems, including the development of hydrogen infrastructure and electricity pricing.
- Hack the Grid: Fast Learning Curves for Enhanced Cybersecurity in the Energy Sector Thanks to Gamification Training Approach
➀ The Fraunhofer IOSB-AST introduces a new training program, 'Hack the Grid: Mission OT-Sicherheit für Energie- und Wasserversorgung', aimed at improving cybersecurity in the energy sector.
➁ The program uses a gamification approach, allowing participants to switch roles between attackers (RED-Team) and defenders (BLUE-Team) to identify vulnerabilities and develop defense strategies.
➂ The training involves working on a mobile IT/OT hardware demonstrator that integrates common automation technology and network components, providing a practical learning experience.
March 25
- Additive Manufacturing and AM Pitch Night for Users and Innovators in Additive Production
➀ The IAMHH e.V. association is hosting its first AM conference in Hamburg in May 2025, aiming to provide insights into the technology and its industrial applications.
➁ The conference program includes talks by renowned speakers from research and industry, focusing on AM in polymers, materials, processes, and applications.
➂ The AM Pitch Night will provide a platform for startups and innovators to present their projects and seek investments.