Press releases | News

In the "MAG4INK" research project, researchers from Fraunhofer IKTS, Fraunhofer FEP and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) aim to demonstrate that flexible magnetic field sensors can be printed cost-effectively at industrially relevant scales. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the project with a total of 1.5 million euros for three years.

The SONIQ RAIL EXPLORER (SRE), a development of Vossloh Rail Services GmbH, Fraunhofer IKTS and WOLFRAM designers and engineers, was awarded 2nd place in the SET4FUTURE Innovation Award 2021 of Saxony's Rail.S rail technology cluster.

As the first event of the Tridelta Campus Sensor Space, the Fraunhofer IKTS Sensor Space Summer School welcomed participants at the Hermsdorf Vocational School from August 6 to 8, 2021. “Learn programming!” – that was the request of all students, and it was fulfilled.

The competition for two large-scale research centers in Lusatia in Saxony and in the Central German coalfields is currently underway. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Free State of Saxony want to create perspectives for the coal regions. In mid-2022, the players who will be allowed to implement their scientific concept on site will be selected from the national and international applicants.

The use of hydrogen holds great potential for decarbonizing industry and thus makes an important contribution to protecting the climate. Innovative hydrogen technologies are the key to a promising and growing market. The state of Thuringia is therefore supporting the new hydrogen application center at the Erfurter Kreuz research campus “Industrial Hydrogen Technologies Thuringia (WaTTh)” with 6.9 million euros over three years. The state is providing a further 3.4 million euros for the purchase of a building in which Fraunhofer IKTS researchers can develop and test hydrogen technologies.

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding the “SAPHIR” innovation concept coordinated by TRIDELTA CAMPUS HERMSDORF e.V. with 12.7 million euros. Including the 19 project members' own contribution, the total financial volume amounts to 17.8 million euros. The funding will be used for research and development by the partners to advance the development of materials as well as products and applications in technical ceramics. The funding plays a significant role in the structural development of Hermsdorf and the entire East Thuringian region.

Due to the energy transition, new technological and resource-strategic challenges arise for the German economy and for society as a whole. Many basic materials for electromobility, fuel cells, electrolyzers, power electronics and information technology will play a much more important role in the future. Often, these high-performance materials must be imported from other countries, which is a risk for material cycles in Europe. In addition, strategically important materials are lost to the economic cycles on a large scale every year because current recycling methods are not yet matured. Fraunhofer Technology Center High Performance Materials THM in Freiberg works on innovative solutions for all of these questions. Saxon Minister of Science Sebastian Gemkow gathered information on site about the progress.

Many devices whose availability and reliability are essential are now electronically controlled. It is simply inconceivable what the consequences would be of the failure of a respirator or a vehicle assistance system. In particular, the soldered joints between the microelectronic components are of special importance. Scientists at Fraunhofer IKTS develop material models based on real measurement data for a wide variety of solder alloys in a uniquely wide temperature range. This makes virtual electronics design more accurate, faster and cheaper.

The reliable operation of safety-relevant structures, such as bridges or pipeline networks, requires holistic lifecycle management. Operators must keep an eye on safety aspects as well as on the reliability of the structure and the safeguarding of the investment. The Canadian-German project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the National Research Council Canada, is entitled "Digital Twin Platform for Infrastructure Asset Lifecycle Management" (DTPIALM) and aims to improve the lifecycle management of critical infrastructure.

The Corona pandemic has greatly increased worldwide interest in rapid yet reliable virus testing. The Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS has now developed innovative “μPCR” laboratory modules to significantly accelerate the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for such tests. Rapid temperature changes are required for the samples, which are made possible by a combination of ceramic 3D printing and applied electronics.