➀ Developers for medical-device OEMs must balance innovation and safety;

➁ They face numerous challenges in ensuring the safety of medical-device software;

➂ The article discusses how these challenges can be overcome.

The formal inauguration of Prof. Dr. Martin Braun as the director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE in Kassel was held recently. The event was accompanied by a symposium on 'Sustainable and Smart Energy Systems,' which addressed the central challenges and future perspectives of the energy transition. The focus was on the current key themes of the Institute: resilience, digitalization, and sector coupling.

In his speech, Timon Gremmels, the Minister for Science, Research, Art, and Culture of Hesse, welcomed Prof. Braun to his new position and emphasized the importance of the work of Fraunhofer IEE in the transition to renewable energies. Prof. Constantin Häfner, the Board Member for Research and Transfer at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, also praised Prof. Braun's contributions to the practical application of research results in the economy.

Prof. Martin Braun, who has significantly shaped the development of Fraunhofer IEE for many years, views the leadership of the Institute as a central responsibility. The Institute aims to develop innovative solutions for the design and automation of energy plants and the entire energy system, with a particular emphasis on close collaboration with partners from science and industry.

➀ The INM – Leibniz-Institut für Neue Materialien presents functional inks and coatings at the LOPEC in Munich, tailored for specific applications.

➁ The inks are designed for flexibility, heat sensitivity, and conductivity, suitable for various applications including wearable devices and smart buildings.

➂ The INM showcases its innovations at stand B0.610, including functional surfaces, transparent heating structures, and satellite communication components.

➀ President Xi Jinping held a symposium with entrepreneurs from various fields across the country to discuss the development of private enterprises under the new situation;

➁ Ren Zhengfei, CEO of Huawei, expressed his confidence in China's rise and discussed Huawei's 'backup plan 2.0';

➂ Lei Jun, CEO of Xiaomi, spoke about Xiaomi's recovery and commitment to high-end development and AI technology application;

➃ Wang Chuanfu, Chairman of BYD, highlighted the achievements of China's new energy vehicle industry and the importance of innovation;

➄ Liu Yonghao, Chairman of New Hope Group, discussed the vitality of traditional industries and the importance of confidence;

➅ Yu Renrong, Chairman of Weilai Semiconductor, analyzed the increasing domestication rate in supply chain and the strong driving force of upstream and downstream development;

➆ Wang Xingxing, CEO of UST, emphasized the importance of innovation and the contribution of young people to national innovation.

➀ The increasing share of electric vehicles (EVs) necessitates a growing need for skilled professionals in the field.

➁ Vocational school teachers from across Bavaria are being trained at the Hochschule Coburg to keep up with the latest technology in EVs.

➂ The training focuses on various aspects such as motor types, cooling systems, and energy management, with hands-on experience and guest lectures from industry experts.

➀ Since January2025, SiC industry has seen continuous funding, with 2 more companies receiving a new round of funding totaling over 500 million yuan.

➁ As of February 21, 12 SiC companies have completed funding this year.

➂ Pinnacle Semiconductor has completed nearly 500 million yuan in A2 and A3 rounds of funding, focusing on R&D, supply chain, and global market layout.

➃ Sun Yang Electronics has completed B round of funding, aiming to enhance R&D efforts and product competitiveness.

➄ In 2025, a total of 12 SiC companies have received funding, with a total amount of nearly 3 billion yuan.

➀ The Fraunhofer FEP is developing optically effective surface structures for perovskite solar cells within the EU PERSEUS project to enhance cell efficiency and reduce reflection losses.

➁ The Design-PV project focuses on creating decorative surfaces for integrated photovoltaic modules, combining aesthetically pleasing solutions with PV-active wall areas.

➂ The RzR-NIL technology allows for the production of large-area, continuous film surfaces with various applications, such as Lab-on-Chip structures, biofouling reduction, and window anti-reflective coatings.

➀ Apple has introduced its first in-house developed 5G modem, the C1, six years after acquiring Intel's 5G modem business unit.

➁ The C1 is designed for the iPhone 16e, a mainstream smartphone, and promises high power efficiency and fast connectivity.

➂ Apple has not disclosed how the C1 achieves its power efficiency, but it is likely due to custom cores and TSMC's 4nm-class process technology.

➀ Engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) device that challenges fundamental thermal physics by converting thermal radiation into electricity more efficiently than ever before, bypassing Planck’s law.

➁ The device, led by Assistant Professor Longji Cui, doubles the power output compared to conventional designs and operates at 1,000°C, producing power comparable to existing designs at 1,400°C.

➂ The innovation involves replacing the vacuum gap between the heat source and solar cell with an infrared-transparent glass spacer, enhancing power density and opening up commercial potential for clean electricity generation in heavy industries.

➀ The Technical University of Würzburg-Schweinfurt's robotics students presented their innovative business ideas at a pitch event in StudyFAB;

➁ The event showcased a variety of ideas, from industrial applications to everyday solutions and healthcare;

➂ The winning team, BRICS, aims to increase the recycling rate of bricks using deep learning algorithms and robotics technology.

➀ Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD) has completed a $32 million Series C funding round;

➁ British Patient Capital invested £5 million into CGD as part of the round;

➂ The funds will be used to expand CGD's operations and focus on the delivery of efficient GaN products.

➀ Axel E. Barten has been awarded an honorary doctorate (Dr.-Ing. E.h.) from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology at the University of Siegen for his scientific work in mechanical engineering.

➁ Barten has been involved in university governance and is a member of the university's board of trustees. His commitment to integrating university research with high-tech practice is highlighted, particularly through the Campus Buschhütten project.

➂ Barten has contributed significantly to the development of new academic programs and has been a visionary driver in the field of engineering. He also spoke about the future of engineering education, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the use of artificial intelligence.

The HAWK University is introducing a new Bachelor's degree program in Engineering Sciences, starting in the winter semester of 2025/26. The program is designed to allow students to explore various fields of engineering and choose a specialization after the first two semesters. It emphasizes practical education and collaboration with local industry to prepare students for future challenges in engineering.

Students can choose from seven specializations including Sustainable Production Technology, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Material Innovation, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, and Laser and Plasma Technology.

Graduates of the program will be equipped with skills for careers in research and development, project management, consulting, entrepreneurship, and teaching.

JD Vance from the Trump administration addressed the Paris AI Conference, emphasizing the opportunities of AI and cautioning against excessive regulation. He highlighted the importance of maintaining AI as a tool for economic innovation, job creation, and national security, without falling into ideological biases or restrictive policies.

Vance also mentioned the administration's commitment to keeping the US at the forefront of AI development and the importance of fostering international collaboration.

He expressed concern over reports of foreign governments considering restrictive policies on US tech companies and emphasized the importance of innovation and free speech in the development of AI.

➀ Electronics Weekly provides updates on the Women Leaders in Electronics Awards 2025;

➁ The event's date and venue have been changed;

➂ The new date is Tuesday 29 April 2025, at One Moorgate Place, London.

➀ The medical device manufacturer Alun Williams highlights a groundbreaking software;

➁ The software is said to have been highly useful in the past 10 years;

➂ No further details about the software are provided in the summary.

The Fraunhofer IZM, in collaboration with international partners, is working on a new injection molding process as part of the EU Horizon project MULTIMOLD. This process aims to produce environmentally friendly electronics products with maximum design freedom. The focus is on sustainability, including comprehensive life cycle assessments and optimizing resource use in the production process.

The project aims to improve the recyclability of products and reduce their ecological footprint, particularly by developing new methods for separating and reusing the individual layers of the components. The process is currently under development and is being continuously optimized for sustainable production without compromising the performance of electronic products.

➀ The Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and Antaios have made a breakthrough in storage technology with SOT-MRAM;

➁ The technology offers an efficient and powerful solution for data processing and storage, potentially replacing cache memory in computer architecture;

➂ The innovation reduces energy consumption by over 50% compared to existing storage technologies, improving efficiency by 30%, and reducing the input current by 20%.

➀ The floating energy community Schoonschip has connected to the energy and flexibility markets since January 2025.

➁ The Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM's innovative solution enables the community to buy and sell electricity at optimal prices.

➂ The community uses battery storage for marketing on the imbalance market, increasing flexibility and reducing costs.

➀ Professor Christian Waldschmidt of the University of Ulm has become a new member of the German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech).

➁ He is an internationally recognized expert in high-frequency technology and conducts research on antenna and radar systems as well as satellite communication.

➂ Waldschmidt supports acatech with his scientific expertise in fulfilling their social mission: scientific policy advice.