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Since the launch of the HELMIZ innovation center in November 2023, the Fraunhofer IST, the Fraunhofer IKTS, and the Helmstedt Economic Region (Wirtschaftsregion Helmstedt GmbH) have been working together to promote innovation in the region and actively support its structural transformation. Through projects in the fields of energy transition, the circular economy, and sustainable agriculture, the initiative aims to create new opportunities for companies, startups, and regional value creation. Time for a mid-term review: In this interview, Dr. Guido Hora, Business Development Manager at Fraunhofer IST and responsible for internal Fraunhofer coordination of HELMIZ, reflects on the project’s developments and experiences to date, successful collaborations, and the next steps toward a sustainable innovation ecosystem in the Helmstedt economic region.

Two years have passed since Integrative Nanotech was launched as a spin-off. Since then, the company has made significant progress: what began as a technology-driven vision has grown into a company that is continuously advancing its solutions for hydrogen leak detection and bringing them to market. In close collaboration with Fraunhofer IST, key technical milestones have been achieved, partnerships have been established, and initial applications have been realized. At the same time, the team has had to navigate a range of challenges—from technological fine-tuning and regulatory requirements to building robust organizational structures. Dr. Hunter King shares insights into how Integrative Nanotech has developed over the past two years, the obstacles that had to be overcome, and the successes that have shaped the company’s journey.

To improve the efficiency of battery storage systems whilst simultaneously minimizing the environmental impact - that was the goal of the joint project “COOLBat”, on which a total of 15 research institutions and industrial partners worked in collaboration. Innovative materials and processes were applied with the aim of improving the service life and performance of batteries. Today, we are talking to Hannes Lefherz, an employee at the Fraunhofer IST, about the project and the role of the Fraunhofer IST within the consortium.

How can the material properties of paper be optimized? What needs to be done in order to exploit new applications for paper as a material? What role do the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST in Braunschweig, the Thünen Institute of Wood Re-search in Hamburg, and the TU Darmstadt thereby play? We asked who and what is behind the project “Biomimetic plasma polymers for the functionalization of paper”, or “Bio-Plas4Paper” for short.

In pharmaceutical production, the interaction of particles with surfaces plays a decisive role. Whether these particles – either in the form of active ingredients or granules – adhere or are easily detached depends on the properties of the surfaces involved. Depending on the product and process, the specific requirements for the production and subsequent application of various medicinal products can vary: For example, strong adhesion can be important in the formulation of stable dosage forms, whereas in other cases the prevention of deposits is crucial in order to avoid expensive cleaning steps.

The Sunrise III mission is an international research project with the aim of investigating the physical processes in the Sun’s atmosphere. At the Fraunhofer IST, special filters were coated which are essential components of the scientific instruments on board the balloon-borne observatory. These high-precision filters enable solar observations to be performed with previously unattainable accuracy, thereby contributing towards research into solar activity and its influence on space weather. We spoke to our colleague Stefan Bruns, who was involved in the work at the Fraunhofer IST.

Integrative Nanotech, a dynamic spin-off from the renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST, has joined forces with its parent institution to revolutionize hydrogen leak detection. This strategic partnership will significantly accelerate the development of next-generation hydrogen leak detection systems and prove their production methods on industrial-scale production systems. In this interview, Dr. Hunter King talks about the path to the spin-off, the unique selling points of Integrative Nanotech and the collaboration with Fraunhofer IST.

Efficient purification of effluent from wastewater treatment plants in order to enable its reuse in crop irrigation - This is the aim of the European research project “Sustainable Electrochemical Reduction of contaminants of emerging concern and Pathogens in WWTP effluent for Irrigation of Crops – SERPIC”. Graduate engineer Dr. Jan Gäbler from the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST tells us exactly what the project is all about and what makes the work so exciting.

Sustainability management and life cycle assessments are gaining in importance on the road towards climate neutrality. In order to sensitize and qualify employees from widely differing areas such as purchasing and sales or (prospective) sustainability managers, the demand for suitable further-training formats is increasing. We spoke to Education Manager Doris Jandel about the new Fraunhofer IST certificate course on the topic of sustainability in companies, which starts on the 9th of April 2024.

Sustainability, circular economy, energy and resource efficiency - catchwords that are currently on everybody’s lips. Companies are faced with the major challenge of meeting the growing demands of a sustainability strategy and thereby providing a contribution towards a climate-friendly and resource-conserving future. The topic of sustainability also plays a significant role at the Fraunhofer IST; the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals is an integral part of many projects at the institute. With this in mind, the Fraunhofer IST is establishing the new “Sustainability Management and Life Cycle Engineering” department. In the following interview, Head of Department Prof. Dr. Stephan Krinke presents the goals, tasks and requirements.