Trade fairs, conferences and events

Students in their fourth semester of a bachelor’s program or higher who are interested in sustainability and future-oriented technologies can participate in a summer school at WeCampusWOB from October 12–16, 2026. The event offers insights into the circular economy in the automotive industry. As a member institute of Fraunhofer CCEM, Fraunhofer IST is actively involved in shaping the program: Institute Director Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christoph Herrmann is one of the keynote speakers, and the institute is also contributing its expertise through experiments on cable pyrolysis and material characterization.

As part of the HySecunda project, Fraunhofer IST is showcasing its expertise in the areas of electrolysers, functional coatings, and hydrogen sensors for the hydrogen economy at the Hydrogen Technology World Expo in Hamburg. HySecunda focuses on solutions for the production, use, and scaling of green hydrogen, as well as international knowledge transfer.

At the International Suppliers Fair IZB in Wolfsburg, Fraunhofer CCEM will be presenting itself as a scientific partner of Open Hybrid LabFactory e.V. (OHLF). As a member institute of Fraunhofer CCEM, Fraunhofer IST will showcase innovative approaches to sustainable and circular mobility. The focus will be on automated production systems, future interior concepts, life cycle engineering, and sustainable product design.

CIRMA 2026 brings together researchers, industry representatives, and policymakers to discuss current developments in circular mobility. The focus is on topics such as circular vehicle architectures and components, sustainable materials, and digital methods for the circular economy. Technical presentations, workshops, demonstrations, and networking events promote exchange between academia and industry across the entire automotive value chain. Prof. Dr. Michael Thomas, an expert in circular products and processes at Fraunhofer IST and director of Fraunhofer CCEM, is a member of the scientific committee.

On January 20 and 21, 2027, the international conference “nextlub” in Leipzig will bring together experts from research and development to discuss current developments in the fields of tribology and sustainable lubrication. The focus will be on innovative lubricant technologies, sustainable raw materials, and resource- and energy-efficient tribological systems. Fraunhofer IST will be represented with a presentation on sustainable lubricants based on oil derived from the black soldier fly.

On 27th and 28th January, the Fraunhofer IST and boltzplatz are jointly organizing an workshop on the topic of “Plasma Process Simulation Tools for Industrial Coating and Etching Systems - Latest Developments and Future Trends”. The event will provide a forum for presenting the latest research by scientists and engineers from industry, engineering institutes and academia. Contributions will cover fundamental scientific aspects as well as application-oriented research and development. Over the course of these two days, the event also provides a platform for dialogue and networking.

The free webinar “Climate Management as a Business Case” demonstrates how companies can systematically evaluate climate action measures and implement them in an economically sound and practical way. It presents a Fraunhofer approach that integrates ecological impact, costs, emissions reductions, and future economic developments into a single framework for decision-making. The webinar is organized in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institutes IST, IPA, and IPK as part of the Fraunhofer Group for Production, as well as the Unternehmensnetzwerk Klimaschutz UNK.

The 17th International Conference on HIPIMS provides a platform among leading international scientists, engineers and students for a discussion of recent achievements in High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering plasma and coating technology. The 17th HIPIMS conference will take place from 16th - 17th, 2027 at the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST in Braunschweig, Germany.