Press Releases 2024

What is the status of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in production in Germany? To what extent are applications with AI solutions already being used in production and in which specific areas? What developments can be expected by the end of this year? The latest study based on the German Manufacturing Survey by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI explores these and other questions. It concludes that AI has indeed arrived in Germany’s manufacturing sector, but that only moderate developments are expected in the foreseeable future.

How has Industry 4.0 (I4.0) developed at production sites in Germany in recent years? Which companies were able to attain digital progress, and which companies need to catch up? The publication by Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI is now available and offers for industry, politics and the public an insight into the development of Industry 4.0 in Germany since 2015. The exclusive empirical evidence is based on the analyses of three waves of the survey German Manufacturing Survey conducted by Fraunhofer ISI. The evaluations show quite clearly: We can speak of an I4.0 evolution, but under no circumstances of a revolution.

In the “HYPAT – H2 POTENTIAL ATLAS”, which was led by Fraunhofer ISI, nine research institutions have examined the future role green hydrogen can play in transforming industry, the transport sector and the energy industry in the direction of greater sustainability and climate neutrality. The project identified possible partner countries for Germany that have the potential to deliver a secure and sustainable supply of hydrogen, determined the global supply and demand for hydrogen and its synthesis products, and developed ideas for possible import, funding and cooperation strategies. The final report has now been published.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft will expand its activities in Heilbronn significantly with funding from the Dieter Schwarz Foundation. From 2025, a total of eight research and innovation centers will address research topics ranging from cybersecurity to quantum AI. This will provide an important impetus for innovation in Germany and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in these fields.

Food safety, sustainability and fairness are important, but not the only objectives which have to be attained in the agricultural and food systems. In the project MATS (Making Agricultural Trade Sustainable) Fraunhofer ISI has developed, together with European, African and South American partners, a model for sustainable agricultural trade in the year 2035 and a roadmap how to get there. The closing publication shows concrete measures, and a selection of examples gives further details.

The 28th International Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators 2024 came to a close in Berlin today. At the three-day event, over 350 participants from the research community discussed the complex dynamics between concepts of openness and closedness in science, technology and innovation, and their impact on research, policy and practice. The Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI was the main organizer of the conference, which was co-hosted by the Humboldt University of Berlin (Robert K. Merton Center for Science Studies) and the German Center for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW) in collaboration with the European Network of Indicator Developers (ENID).

Raw materials are crucial resources when it comes to prosperity and quality of life in the European Union. However, various raw materials are categorized as critical due to the uncertain supply situation. Through research and innovation, the European Union can improve its supply of critical raw materials – but how exactly can this be achieved? A new study led by Fraunhofer ISI on behalf of the STOA Panel of the European Parliament (EP) sheds light on the role of research and innovation along the value chain, it identifies research needs and evaluates concrete proposals for measures in terms of costs, benefits and feasibility.

A new joint study by Fraunhofer ISI and Amazon provides critical insights as to the optimal number and location of public fast-charging stations required to enable the widespread electrification of long-haul trucking in Europe. Using traffic flow estimates for 2030, the study built on Amazon’s open-source CHALET tool to analyse 20,000 potential public truck charging locations along the major European highways and a large data set of 1.6 million truck trip combinations. The results suggest that just 1,000 charging stations equipped with Megawatt Charging System (MCS) outlets could enable about 91% of expected long-haul trucking traffic.

Fraunhofer ISI and Saarland University have analyzed three generations of quantum communication in a new study. The study’s quantitative monitoring gives insights into patent development, projects future growth, and compares international research strategies. The study, which was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, also examined how Germany and Europe stand in an international context.

A new Fraunhofer ISI study analysed future cost developments for price-setting components of zero-emission trucks from more than 200 sources. The study findings show that zero-emission trucks will benefit from rapidly falling costs of batteries and fuel cells, which will enable their fast market diffusion and help to achieve national and international climate policy targets. With battery-electric trucks as currently most promising and cost-effective zero-emission technology for most use cases, industry and policy must prepare with respect to their manufacturing, comprehensive charging infrastructure, electricity grid expansion, and regulation.

In a new study conducted by Fraunhofer ISI on behalf of TA-SWISS, researchers look at the issue of “deepfakes“. The first step was to analyze the current state of technology and research with regard to deepfakes and examine how they are perceived by the Swiss population. In addition, the study analyzed their potential impact on journalism, law, politics and business and drew up recommendations for action in these areas.

Gender, age, ethnicity, culture background, income, sexual orientation, interests, abilities and educational achievements. Diversity has numerous and often overlapping dimensions. Recent innovation research looks at the various aspects, which should be taken into account during and even before the development of an innovation. Fraunhofer ISI not only carries out research in heterogeneous teams, but also makes diversity itself the focus of investigation. Diversity is a topic that should be scrutinized across all research topics and processes.

In the MobilKULT project, Fraunhofer ISI is exploring how individual mobility habits, experiences with infrastructure, attitudes toward different modes of transport and opinions about policy measures are changing. Every six months, the research team conducts a representative survey. In the last two rounds, the focus was on the Deutschland-Ticket (a subscription ticket for local public transport across Germany) – which, according to the study, has the potential to shift mobility toward more sustainability.

In 2000, the Council of Europe issued a Recommendation aimed at improving access to archives in the member states. Together with the Vera and Donald Blinken Open Society Archives (OSA Archivum) in Budapest, Fraunhofer ISI evaluated how these recommendations have been implemented and how accessible the archives are more than 20 years on. The researchers also investigated the technological, legal and political challenges facing freedom of information.

In an effort to further develop the portfolio of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in both subject-specific and commercial terms, particularly with an eye to innovation research, the executive board of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has adopted a package of measures relating to the Fraunhofer Center for International Management and Knowledge Economy IMW. As a result, parts of Fraunhofer IMW, which will then no longer have independent status, will be integrated into the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI. This means the Leipzig location will continue to operate from a stronger long-term position.

In the project CIRCADIA, Fraunhofer ISI together with FOM University of Applied Sciences, investigated how technologies and a de-structured daily routine could affect the circadian rhythms, i.e. the inner human clocks. Recommendations of the study include abolishing the clock change to “Daylight saving time”, adjusting school hours for teenagers and appreciating daylight.

In the “HoLa” project, a total of eight high-performance charging points for trucks using the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) are being installed at five locations along the A2 between Berlin and the Ruhr region and used in real logistics operations. Recommendations for action have been derived from the research results available to date that contain important findings for a nationwide expansion of charging infrastructure. All the results were presented today at the European “HoLa conference” in Berlin and are documented in a report.

Dressing well with a clear conscience: When shopping online, customers are increasingly paying attention to whether products are fair and sustainable. However, it is not always easy to recognize this, there is often a lack of clarity and transparency when it comes to certification, labels and other sustainability claims. A consortium of research and industry partners has been looking for solutions in the ZuSiNa project ("Besserer Zugang und Sichtbarkeit von Nachhaltigkeitsinformationen im Online-Handel", Better access and visibility of sustainability information in online retail). In an online guide, Fraunhofer ISI, Fraunhofer IAO, ConPolicy and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) present their results and provide technical and AI-based solutions.

Many economies are dependent on oil and gas exports, however, the efforts to combat global warming are reducing demand for fossil fuels worldwide and emphasizing the need for diversification. In a new study for the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German development agency GIZ), Fraunhofer ISI investigated the possible economic consequences of the market decline for the affected countries. Based on case studies for Saudi-Arabia, Kazakhstan and Nigeria the researchers analyzed to what extent declining export revenues for fossil fuels could be compensated by the export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.

Well-developed charging infrastructure has an important role to play in the market ramp-up of electric mobility in Germany. However, charging vehicles overnight remains a challenge for many of those living in cities with lots of apartment houses and non-residential buildings. A new study by the Fraunhofer institutes ISI and ISE on behalf of Transport & Environment (T&E) looks at what needs and potentials apartment and non-residential buildings have for charging infrastructure – especially in light of the amendment of Germany’s Building Electric Mobility Infrastructure Act (GEIG). The results suggest there is a significant gap between the planned expansion and the need for charging points up to 2030.