Fields of technology

At Fraunhofer ISI, Technology Assessment takes place in many different fields, including biotechnology and bioeconomy, data protection and digitalization, health and medicine, energy and sustainability, information and communication technologies, mobility and transport as well as climate and the environment.

Digi & Green Economy

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Fraunhofer ISI analyzes the intersections between increasing digitalization and Germany’s ongoing evolvement into a green economy. Both phenomena are fundamentally changing the way we do business, but were often regarded separately in the past. This project’s focus is on a joint analysis based on selected topics. 

PilotSTRATEGY

Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) plays an important role in achieving the European climate goals, especially with regard to the future viability of industrial regions. Managing this challenge will depend on whether sufficient options for geological CO2 storage are available in the 2030s and beyond. The EU research project “CO2 Geological Pilots in Strategic Territories” (PilotSTRATEGY) supports future decision-making by exploring geological CO2 storage sites in five possible regions. The project involves stakeholders and the regions in the research process. Social science-based methods are used to facilitate the integration of society and ensure its perspective is fully represented in the project.  

Forum Privatheit (Forum Privacy)

Forum Privacy is a research consortium funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). It comprises experts from seven scientific institutions and deals with privacy protection issues in an interdisciplinary way. These concern a self-determined life in the digital world, for example data security and surveillance as well as hate speech and disinformation.

EE-Rebound

Are there rebound effects due to the switch to renewable energy sources? For instance, are people less willing to save energy when they use green power? Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the EE Rebound project explores these kinds of questions. Its objective is to find ways to avoid rebound effects that have a negative effect on the environment.

Deepen Genomics – Opportunities and challenges of the convergence of artificial intelligence, modern human genomics and genome editing 

How do genetic differences between individuals determine their predisposition for common diseases? Understanding these relationships is a major challenge for modern genome research. Artificial intelligence (AI), especially in the form of deep learning systems, could potentially help here. This project explores the potential offered by the convergence of AI with human genomics, and identifies realistic application possibilities with their opportunities and specific ethical, social, economic and regulatory challenges.

The impacts of automated and connected road vehicles on energy and greenhouse gas emissions

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Fraunhofer ISI is exploring the impacts of introducing automated and connected vehicles into road traffic. Considering private and public passenger transport as well as the logistics sector, the contribution of these technologies to climate protection is quantified up to the year 2050.

• Beckert, B. (2021): Trustworthy artificial intelligence: Selected practical projects and reasons for the implementation deficit. In: Zeitschrift für Technikfolgenabschätzung in Theorie und Praxis, 30 (3), S. 17–22.
• Heil, R., Heyen, N. B., Baumann, M., Hüsing, B., Bachlechner, D., Schmoch, U., & König, H. (2021): Artificial intelligence in human genomics and biomedicine: Dynamics, potentials and challenges. In: Zeitschrift für Technikfolgenabschätzung in Theorie und Praxis, 30 (3), S. 30–36.
• Neef, C.; Schmaltz; T.; Thielmann, A. (2021): Recycling von Lithium-Ionen-Batterien: Chancen und Herausforderungen für den Maschinen- und Anlagenbau. Karlsruhe: Fraunhofer ISI.
• Dütschke, E.; Galvin, R.; Brunzema, I. (2021): Rebound and Spillovers: Prosumers in Transition. In: Frontiers in Psychology (Research Topic "The Role of the Individual in the Great Transformation Toward Sustainability").
• Heyen, N. B.; Salloch, S. (2021): The ethics of machine learning-based clinical decision support: An analysis through the lens of professionalisation theory. In: BMC medical ethics 22, Art. 112.
• Langkau, S.; Erdmann, M. (2021): Environmental impacts of the future supply of rare earths for magnet applications. In: Journal of industrial ecology 25, Nr. 4, S. 1034-1050.
• Thielmann A.; Wietschel, M.; Funke, S.; Grimm, A.; Hettesheimer, T.; Langkau, S.; Loibl, A.; Moll, C.; Neef, C.; Plötz, P.; Sievers, L.; Tercero Espinoza, L.; Edler, J. (2020): Batterien für Elektroautos: Faktencheck und Handlungsbedarf. Karlsruhe: Fraunhofer ISI.
• Krail, M. (2020): Auto tankt Internet. Auswirkungen des automatisierten und vernetzten Fahrens auf den Energieverbrauch von Fahrzeugen, Datenübertragung und Infrastruktur. Berlin: Agora Verkehrswende. 
• Gotsch, M.; Erdmann, L.; Eberling, E. (2020): Digitalisierung ökologisch nachhaltig nutzbar machen. Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt.
• Krail, M. (2019): Energie- und Treibhausgaswirkungen des automatisierten und vernetzten Fahrens im Straßenverkehr. Karlsruhe: Fraunhofer ISI.