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  • The Fraunhofer IST at the Hannover Messe 2024 / 2024

    Sensory tool inserts enable real-time quality control during injection molding

    Press Release / March 18, 2024

    Tool inserts with thin-film sensors for injection molding.
    © Fraunhofer IST

    The economical and ecological manufacturing of components using injection molding requires a high level of process reliability. This requires precise recording and monitoring of relevant parameters such as temperature and pressure curves. At Hannover Messe from April 22 – 26, 2024, the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST will be presenting real-time data acquisition directly during the running process using integrated and wear-resistant thin-film sensors. The special feature here is that the tribologically resistant multifunctional sensor systems are deposited directly on the tool surface, enabling measurement in the main load zones.

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  • New further training format at the Fraunhofer IST / 2024

    "think GREEN, act SMART: Introduction to sustainability for companies"

    Press Release / March 14, 2024

    The topics of sustainability and climate neutrality are becoming increasingly important in today's business world. In the wake of climate change and the growing awareness of our planet's limited resources, it is of great importance for companies to make their activities sustainable and minimize their environmental footprint. The demand for skilled professionals with expertise in sustainability and life cycle assessment (LCA), capable of effectively applying their knowledge within their respective companies, is constantly increasing, especially in areas such as purchasing or sales.

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  • Fraunhofer IST Head of Department appointed to the Advisory Board of the Association for European Sustainability and Eco-Management Professionals, VNU e. V. / 2024

    Association work in the field of sustainability and environmental management

    Interview  / March 13, 2024

    Prof. Dr. Stephan Krinke, Head of Sustainability Management and Life Cycle Engineering at the Fraunhofer IST, was appointed to the Advisory Board of the Association for European Sustainability and Eco-Management Professionals, VNU e. V. in December 2023. The Association is an independent collective that brings together industry, science and certification bodies and supports the practical implementation of sustainability and environmental management in companies. Furthermore, the VNU networks the stakeholders through conferences and regional meetings and helps to enable the implementation of the latest developments from science and standardization into practice.

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  • S Mile Solutions (Pty) Ltd – Fraunhofer spin-off commences work / 2024

    Help for the last mile in the sub-Saharan region

    Press Release / March 12, 2024

    The prototype of a mobile supply platform in field tests.
    © Fraunhofer ISE, Ricarda Sack

    No clean water, no functioning electricity grid, no primary healthcare – a scenario that is not uncommon in remote areas of the sub-Saharan region. The founding of “S Mile Solutions (Pty) Ltd”, a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, is seeking to change this. The start-up, based in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa, provides smart, small-scale and off-grid infrastructure solutions that are mounted on commercially available pick-up trucks, thereby enabling companies and institutions to access rural and remote communities with their services and products.

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  • Technology development in the field of electrode coating for aluminum-ion battery cells in the BALU consortia project.
    © Jürgen Lösel / Fraunhofer IKTS

    In the joint project “BALU - Production technology for battery cell concepts on the basis of aluminum-ion technology”, a consortium of research institutions and specialized industrial companies is further developing the aluminum-graphite dual-ion battery (AGDIB). As a result of its high power density, AGDIB technology has tremendous potential in the area of highly dynamic load requirements and could be an alternative to cost- and material-intensive lithium batteries. The project is pursuing the ambitious goal of transferring the production of AGDIB cells from laboratory scale to industry-compatible production conditions. In addition to the transfer of the new battery technology, explicit ecological considerations – such as environmentally friendly production, subsequent recycling, and the avoidance of critical raw materials – hereby play an important role. The BALU project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the framework of the “Batterie2020Transfer” program.

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  • Renewable energy / 2023

    Scalable solutions for green hydrogen production in South Africa

    Press Release / December 04, 2023

    Kick-off meeting HySecunda
    © Fraunhofer IMWS

    South Africa could play an important role in the coming years as a reliable producer of green hydrogen – including as a supplier for Germany. However, the storage and distribution of this resource currently poses challenges. This is where the recently launched Fraunhofer joint research project HySecunda comes in, which is a cooperation between nine Fraunhofer institutes and the Fraunhofer Academy. The project aims to find optimized solutions for produc-ing, storing and certifying green hydrogen. In addition, the consortium is sup-porting efforts to build capacity in the region and in current projects on hy-drogen-based fuels for the aviation industry.

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  • Europäische Woche der Abfallvermeidung (European waste-prevention week) from the 18th to the 26th of November 2023 / 2023

    Moving towards a climate-neutral future through closed material cycles

    Press Release / November 26, 2023

    © Fraunhofer IST, Illustration: Marén Gröschel

    Avoiding waste, conserving resources, saving energy, reducing CO2 production: On the path towards climate neutrality and in times of energy crises, the circular economy is of particular importance. This is also reflected in the Europäische Woche der Abfallvermeidung (European waste-prevention week), which takes place annually in November in order to increase public awareness regarding the sustainable utilization of resources.

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  • Funding notification received - The economic region continues to develop / 2023

    Fraunhofer IST founds innovation center in Helmstedt

    Press Release / November 21, 2023

    Thomas Klein, Managing Director of  Wirtschaftsregion Helmstedt GmbH (left) and Dr. Guido Hora from the Fraunhofer IST (right).
    © Wirtschaftsregion Helmstedt, Fotograf: Philipp Ziebart

    It was delivered this week: The next funding notification for the utilization of funds provided under the program for structural reinforcement. Once again, more than one million euros will flow into the further diversification of regional value creation. Specifically, the funds will be used for the project conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST and the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS entitled “Aufbau und Etablierung eines Innovationszentrums durch das Fraunhofer IST als Impulsgeber für Wissens- und Technologietransfer Maßnahmen” (Development and establishment of an innovation center by the Fraunhofer IST as a catalyst for knowledge- and technology-transfer measures).

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  • Concluding event: HyExperts project partners present assessment and regional potential / 2023

    How green hydrogen can be created and used in the region

    Press Release / November 16, 2023

    Abschlussveranstaltung HyExperts
    © Allianz für die Region GmbH

    Who are the hydrogen protagonists in South-East Lower Saxony? How do they work together? And where do the region’s cities and districts stand with regard to dealing with this key technology and the associated challenges? Answers to these and other questions were provided today at the concluding event of the HyExperts funding project “Wasserstoffregion Südostniedersachsen” (Hydrogen region South-East Lower Saxony). Around 70 representatives from regional companies and institutions gathered together at the start-up and business center in Helmstedt in order to obtain information regarding the results of the approximately one-year project work of the Allianz für die Region (Alliance for the region) and its partners. The participants provided a comprehensive insight into their assessment and analysis of potential, thereby illustrating how hydrogen can be created and used in the region. According to the analysis, the region is already well positioned and the protagonists are planning initial solutions or have already initiated them. According to those responsible, it would, however, make sense to improve the networking of regional activities in the future. HyExperts project partners are the district of Helmstedt as the responsible regional authority, Wirtschaftsregion Helmstedt GmbH, Allianz für die Region GmbH, the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST, and IAV GmbH.

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  • Osigus praises approval for the “Transformation Wilhelmshaven” project as an “important step” / 2023

    3.1 million euros for structural change in the Wilhelmshaven region

    Press Release / November 02, 2023

    © Fraunhofer IST

    The Wilhelmshaven region will receive 3,155,217.56 euros for the further implementation of structural change. The money will flow into the “Transformation Wilhelmshaven” project which is being conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST and the Jade University of Applied Sciences. “Transformation Wilhelmshaven” is intended to help strengthen local transition in the industrial structure and the energy industry in order to increase value creation in the region, thereby sustainably improving the quality of life. The funding stems from the so-called “Kohlemittel” (coal funds), which are provided by the federal government for the management of structural change in the former coal-mining areas and which are administered by the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Bundes- und Europaangelegenheiten und Regionale Entwicklung (Lower Saxony ministry for federal and European affairs and regional development). The Federal Office of Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) has now approved the funding. It will run for three years.

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