Press Releases 2026

Advancing fusion energy takes a concerted effort. On September 8, 2026, “Zukunftstag Kernfusion” brought together more than 100 registered attendees from research, industry, startups, and government at the Fraunhofer Institute Center Dresden. More than 50 companies expressed interest in the emerging fusion industry. At the event, SAXFUSION highlighted practical entry points for Saxon companies and strengthened dialogue across the future value chain. The European Union and the Free State of Saxony are funding the network’s development with around 2.4 million euros through the end of 2027.

High mechanical and abrasive loads can significantly shorten the service life of tools and components. Coatings made of tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) reduce friction and effectively protect surfaces. The Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS has recently achieved two breakthroughs that could significantly expand the industrial use of ta-C coatings. Researchers in Dresden developed a plasma filter technology for the Laser-Arc process to reduce defects selectively. They have also succeeded for the first time in reliably producing ultrathick ta-C coatings of up to 100 micrometers, opening up new possibilities for protecting surfaces exposed to extremely high mechanical loads.

The FREDY project develops new technologies for dry-coating of battery electrodes. Fraunhofer IWS and Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) combine their expertise for this purpose. The project partners develop fluorine-free binders, optimize active materials using atomic layer deposition (ALD), and link material, process, and equipment development in an integrated approach. Fraunhofer IWS funds its work through the internal ICON program, while ITRI finances its project share from its own resources. The partners address material manufacturers, equipment suppliers, and cell producers, aiming to enable industrial implementation within a few years after the project ends.

Researchers at Fraunhofer IWS have developed a new laser-based technology called Laser Direct Plating that produces metallic layers faster, more energy-efficiently and at lower cost than established processes. The team helically wraps strip-shaped metal around rotationally symmetric components and locally creates a metallurgical bond to the substrate using laser energy. The base material remains solid, the surface stays smooth and requires little to no post-processing. Users significantly reduce cycle times, energy consumption and process costs.

A new measurement technology reduces scrap in fiber‑reinforced plastic (FRP) profiles and enables cost‑effective, real-time process control for small and medium-sized enterprises. Researchers developed the system in the PulLoop project led by the Fraunhofer Application Center for Optical Metrology and Surface Technologies AZOM. Together with Fraunhofer IGCV, the team developed an integrated measurement system that monitors product quality in real time during production and feeds the results back into the manufacturing process.

Friction determines energy consumption, wear, and the service life of technical systems. Within the BioSlide research project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS investigates how sliding systems can be designed to be more sustainable and energy-efficient. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) under the “BioKreativ 4” program with around 3.3 million euros, the project establishes a new interdisciplinary junior research group. The group focuses on biobased materials, lubricants, and superlubricity.

Paper packaging offers a number of advantages over its plastic counterparts: It has a high recycling rate, lower CO₂ emissions, and lower disposal costs. However, it cannot yet be sealed without adhesives or layers of plastic – a disadvantage for manufacturing and recycling processes. In the PAPURE project, four Fraunhofer institutes are developing a laser-based process that enables completely adhesive-free paper packaging.

UltraGRAIN controls the grain structure of metallic components directly within the additive process. The international ICON research project of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, conducted with Australian partners, has shown that microstructures can be adjusted locally and in a targeted manner during laser-based metal deposition. The project involved Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS, Fraunhofer Institute for Additive Manufacturing Technologies IAPT, and RMIT University in Melbourne. Funded through the Fraunhofer ICON program and by Australian partners, the consortium developed a scalable approach for industrial applications. The project concluded on February 25, 2026, with a final partner meeting in Dresden.

Functional tissue models are gaining importance in drug development, toxicology, and regenerative medicine. Cryopreservation, however, remains labor-intensive, error-prone, and difficult to scale. The Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS, together with other Fraunhofer institutes, has developed an automated platform that standardizes vitrification and delivers reproducible results. The “COLDIMPACT” project, part of the Fraunhofer preliminary research program Prepare, creates industry-oriented processes that replace manual, case-by-case work and pave the way for transfer into application and production.