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This year, the focus of the Future Automotive Production Conference lies on Circular Economy and and Sustainable Materials. The topics of the conference include Production & Processes, Resource Efficiency through Digitalisation & Automation, and Materials & Applications.

This year marks the 67th edition of SVC TechCon. The conference has both a technical program and an educational program and thus offers participants a comprehensive insight into vacuum coating technologies. The Fraunhofer IST is participating in the scientific program with contributions in the scientific and education program.

SPIE Optical Systems Design is an interdisciplinary forum for technicians, engineers, researchers, and managers who are involved in instrumental optics at all levels: design, specification, production, and testing. It will be co-located with SPIE Photonics Europe in Strasbourg. The event provides insights into new research findings trough more than a hundred of international presentations. World-class speakers in the filed are sharing their research and vision of the future. Furthermore, the participants can connect with colleagues and engage with leading companies by attending technical and networking events as well as exhibitions. The Fraunhofer IST is participating in the event with a presentation.

The Batterieforum Deutschland provides a platform for battery research and development in Germany, because battery research and production - contrary to what is often assumed - does not only take place in Asia and the USA. With the support of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Kompetenznetzwerk Lithium-Ionen-Batterien (KLiB) (engl. competence network for lithium-ion batteries) is organizing the Batterieforum Deutschland. The aim of the congress is to promote an interdisciplinary and cross-industry scientific and technical dialog. Through this dialog, scientists from various research institutions and industry will come together to discuss various key topics and develop a common understanding of batteries. This systemic approach enables a deeper understanding and promotes interdisciplinary exchange. Fraunhofer IST is represented by Svenja Weber and Kira Patzke who present their research results.

Why do we need hydrogen? The answer is simple: For a climate-neutral economy. Wherever direct electrification is not possible, hydrogen can replace fossil fuels - directly or in bonded form for example as powerfuel Where can I get hydrogen and how can I use it? Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water with the help of renewable energies. In our program, you will learn how to produce, transport and use green hydrogen. In the process we share with you the latest research knowledge from the Fraunhofer IST and show you how hydrogen is already being used by our associate companies. You will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with scientists and entrepreneurs, but you will also get an introduction to the components of tomorrow's hydrogen economy. You don't need any prior knowledge. We will start from where you are now. We look forward to meeting you!

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.

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.

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).

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.

At TACT 2023 our HIPIMS expert Dr. Ralf Bandorf will give an invited talk on ”Industrial Scale Reactive HIPIMS - Applications and Active Process Control”.

The global demand for electrochemical energy storage devices is at an all-time high and is expected to increase dynamically. The production process from battery materials to battery systems is of great importance with regard to both environmental and cost targets. Since 2018, the International Battery Production Conference is dedicated to production related topics including recycling, circular economy and Supply Chains fostering the transition of the mobility system.

The 13th AEPSE conference focusses on plasma physics, plamsa chemistry and their applications. It will also cover topics such as films and coatings, green energy and life science. Prof. Dr. Michael Thomas has been invited to give a lecture on ”Development and integration of microplasma souces in additive manufacturing processes – application and perspectives”.

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.

The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft tackles the current challenges of the German industry. With lighthouse projects, we set strategic priorities in order to develop concrete solutions for the benefit of Germany as a business location. The aim is to quickly convert original scientific ideas into marketable products. In the Fraunhofer lighthouse project "MaNiTU”, six Fraunhofer institutes have been working closely together since 2019 to develop the solar cells of the future. With a planned industrial workshop, we want to involve our industrial partners in the project at an early stage, in order to cover the needs of industry with the bundled competencies of the Fraunhofer institutes involved.

The V-Conference is the meeting place for the vacuum, plasma and coating industry. Speakers and exhibitors from industry and science present the latest developments and innovations in the industry to the trade audience. The Fraunhofer IST is represented as a scientific partner of the event with the following contributions.

The EU PVSEC is the largest international conference for photovoltaics in the areas of research, technologies and applications with an accompanying industrial exhibition, in which representatives of the photovoltaic industry present their technologies, innovations and new concepts. This year the EU PVSEC will again be held online. Dr. Volker Sittinger, head of the Department Diamond-based Systems and CleanTech at the Fraunhofer IST will contribute with a poster presentation.

The international Expo and Conference for the hydrogen and fuel cell industries provides an extensive overview for relevant international markets and industries as well as technological advancements. hy-fcell consists of an english speaking conference with interactive plenaries and workshops, and an international trade fair. Professor Sabrina Zellmer is participating in the conference with a presentation on ”Dismantling and Recycling Strategies for Fuel Cells”.

The LCM (Life Cycle Management) conference series is one of the world’s leading forums for environmental, economic and social sustainability. The focus is on practical solutions for the implementation of life cycle approaches into strategic and operational decision-making, whether in science, industry, NGOs or public bodies. Demonstrations of LCM, whether at the stage of methodology development, tools and methods experimentation, or LCM-driven success stories as market innovations, are expected at the LCM2023 conference. The objective is to discuss and advance the implementation of life cycle approaches along the businesses value chains, supporting environmental, social and economic sustainability. Experts from the Fraunhofer IST in the fields of process and production engineering for sustainable energy storage as well as sustainability management and life cycle engineering will contribute to the conference to present their current results to the LCM community.

The symposium offers insights into the latest research results on climate-friendly resource management and a platform to discuss the challenges with experts. Our deputy institute director and expert in process and production engineering for sustainable energy storage Professor Sabrina Zellmer is participating in the program of the symposium with a lecture.

The knowledge platform floating on Braunschweig’s Oker river provides visitors with information in the form of posters which focus on the fields of education, water-treatment technologies and ecological sustainability. “Sauberes Wasser durch Diamant” (Clean water through diamond) is the topic with which the Fraunhofer IST is participating; on the raft, the institute provides an overview of its expertise in the field of water treatment by means of diamond technology. The floating dock will remain open to the public until mid-October.

Shipping the sunshine - How can green hydrogen be transported cost-efficiently from Australia to Germany? This question is being addressed by the Fraunhofer IST in collaboration with German and Australian project partners. The consortium plans to go beyond feasibility studies and to transport green hydrogen from Australia to Germany by means of validated developments in electrolysis technology and model-based evaluations of the hydrogen value chain.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sabrina Zellmer, Head of Department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST in Braunschweig, has taken on not one but two new functions simultaneously. In April, Prof. Zellmer was appointed Professor for Battery and Fuel-Cell Process Technology at the Technische Universität Braunschweig. Located at the Institute for Particle Technology (iPAT), the professorship further strengthens the close alliance between the TU Braunschweig and the Fraunhofer IST. In addition, Prof. Sabrina Zellmer has held the position of Deputy Director of the Fraunhofer IST since 1st July 2023.

A number of companies and research institutions from South-East Lower Saxony are, within a joint consortium, pooling their expertise along the battery-recycling chain and thereby driving forward the circular economy in Lower Saxony.

The world's leading trade fair for components, systems and applications LASER is taking place for the 26th time. The Fraunhofer IST will be presenting its self-developed software MOCCA+®, which takes over the automatic control of plants and thus facilitates production.

Information for visitors, customers and partners of the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST: The street Bienroder Weg has been renamed Riedenkamp by the City of Braunschweig. As a result, our address at the institute will also be changing.

This year's International Conference on Fundamentals and Industrial Applications of HIPIMS 2023 will take place in Venlo, Netherlands. Together with Sheffield Hallam University the Fraunhofer IST as a scientific partner is organizing this conference on the topic of High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering. Results in the field of innovative plasma surface technology will be discussed at the conference.

The Fraunhofer Center for Energy Storage and Management Systems ZESS is centered around the development of system solutions for energy storage and hydrogen technologies. To achieve this, the three research partners — the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST and the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS — are being provided with a new institute building at the Braunschweig Research Airport. The groundbreaking ceremony on June 7, 2023 marked the start of construction on a research building comprising over 3,400 square meters of floor space. Among those who participated in the ceremony were the Minister for Science and Culture for Lower Saxony, Falko Mohrs; the mayor of Braunschweig, Dr. Thorsten Kornblum; and the vice-president for Technology Transfer and Innovation at the Technical University of Braunschweig, Prof. Arno Kwade.

The Fraunhofer IST is participating in the technical exhibition and with a contribution to the scientific program of the 10th NRW Nano Conference. Tristan Brückner will present a poster on "Self-Organizing Ti-Si-B-C-N Nanocomposite Coatings for Wear Reduction".

The requirements placed upon production are increasing continuously. Products are becoming more complex and, at the same time, a larger quantity of variants is being demanded. In order to meet these challenges, manufacturing processes must be optimized. Quality assurance, process monitoring and control as well as automation thereby play a special role. At the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST, systems for improved process control and the automated process management of coating processes are developed on the basis of a holistic understanding of the process. One example is the MOCCA^+® software, which will be demonstrated live at LASER 2023.

This year, the CIRP Design Conference will take place in Sydney. The conference offers its participants an international forum for researchers to exchange and discuss visions, the state of the art and innovations, the latest developments and perspectives and thus make a significant contribution to accelerating product development. Prof. Dr. Stephan Krinke, Chief Scientist for Sustainability and Life Cycle Management at the Fraunhofer IST is keynote speaker on the topic ”Life cycle engineering and decarbonization along the value-chain”.

Dr. Andreas Pflug from the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST was presented with the “Mentor Award” at this year’s conference of the Society of Vacuum Coaters (SVC TechCon 2023) in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of plasma-process simulation. With the award, which has been presented annually since 2001, the SVC acknowledges exceptional contributions towards the development of vacuum coating technology or services to society.

This year marks the 66th edition of SVC TechCon. The conference has both a technical program and an educational program and thus offers participants a comprehensive insight into vacuum coating technologies. The Fraunhofer IST is participating in the scientific program with numerous contributions and at the associated technical exhibition.

The Fraunhofer IST is participating at this year's Hannover Messe with the latest development results on sustainable process chains for the processing of materials and on thin-film sensor technology for condition monitoring. The trade show's central theme is ”Industrial Transformation - Making the Difference” and will showcase the potential of the industry.

The 11th International Conference on Hot-Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition (HWCVD) will take place this year at Forschungszentrum Jülich. The newest applications, developments and research results of Hot-Wire CVD, Catalytic CVD, and iCVD will be presented. The Fraunhofer IST is participating in the conference programme with several presentations.

In order to achieve optimum product quality, precise control of the production process is necessary. For this purpose, the relevant parameters must be continuously recorded. In this context, the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST from Braunschweig will be presenting its most recent developments for the optimization of cotter rolling processes at this year’s Hannover Messe: Thin-film sensor inserts which enable precise in-situ detection of the temperature distribution on the tool surface.

Autonomous, self-controlling production systems have tremendous potential in the transformation towards sustainability. At the Hannover Messe 2023, the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST will be presenting innovative solutions for real-time data acquisition directly in the running process. Through the development of integrated and wear-resistant thin-film sensors, parameters such as force, temperature or wear can be recorded in the vicinity of highly stressed forming zones. As a result, the manufacturing process for high-quality cold-forged parts can be monitored and optimized from an ecological and economic point of view. This increases both process understanding and process reliability.

Whether drilling, turning or milling: In machining – as well as in primary forming and re-forming, die casting and many other applications – tools are of pivotal importance for industrial production. Their performance significantly influences both the quality and the cost of the manufactured product and, consequently, the economic and ecological sustainability of the production process. One objective of the work at the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST in Braunschweig is the development of resilient and smart tools under the requirements of sustainability. The researchers thereby take the entire process chain into account - from tool design and material characterization, through pre-treatment, cleaning, and customized surface treatments and coatings, and on to testing and application.

With the aim of being able to ensure comprehensive preclinical care in even the most remote areas of Africa, researchers from the Fraunhofer institutes for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST and for Solar Energy Systems ISE, in collaboration with Stellenbosch University and South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) in South Africa, have developed a mobile care platform which, on 3rd March 2023, was handed over to the NGO Rhiza Babuyile during a ceremonial event. The non-profit organization has a number of locations in South Africa and will conduct the one-year test phase of the supply unit in the Mpumalanga region.

The Fraunhofer-Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF and the Fraunhofer-Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST jointly coordinates a Support and Coordinated Action aiming at defining and harmonising a commonly accepted and applied single Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach for zero-emission vehicles ZEV. Both institutes brought together 44 key stakeholders along the full value chain of zero-emission vehicles covering, among others, vehicle and battery manufactures, the supply industry, energy providers and recyclers. This unique initiative is supported by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme and had its kick-off meeting on February 1 in Brussels with about 60 attendees.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative eye condition that affects approximately ¼ of the population. Particularly in the western world, it is the most frequent cause of blindness in humans. In most cases, the chronic progression of the retinal condition is not curable, as the window of opportunity in which any therapeutic action can be taken is very small. One potential new form of treatment is presented by stem-cell therapy. Fraunhofer researchers have now developed a new method for the production and clinical application of stem-cell-based retinal implants, which could contribute towards the successful treatment of AMD. Their approach thereby is to replace damaged tissue with stem-cell-based transplants.