Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM

Welcome to Fraunhofer ITWM!

We are one of the world's largest mathematical research institutes and our goal is to further develop mathematics as a key technology, give innovative impetus and implement it in practice together with industry partners. Methodologically, our research areas are based on modeling, simulation and optimization. Integral parts of our projects are consulting and implementation, support in the application of high-performance computer technology and providing tailor-made software solutions. We not only use simulation software, but also develop it ourselves, often in cooperation with leading software companies.
Nowadays, companies of all sizes use simulations on regular bases which gives them benefit in terms of product innovation and quality assurance. Our customers are mainly in the automotive, mechanical engineering, textile, computer industry and finance sectors.

News

 

Review and Portraits / 26.03.2026

»THREAD«: More Than a Research Project

As Fraunhofer ITWM, we were a key partner in the European doctoral network »THREAD«, in which doctoral students from eight countries conducted research on models for highly flexible structures.

In five profiles, early-career researchers who now work at our institute or at the ITWM spin-off fleXstructures GmbH share how »THREAD« shaped their careers.

 

Press Release / 24.03.2026

Simulation Tool for Sustainable Plastic Surfaces

Together with Fraunhofer IMWS, we are developing a simulation tool that makes the development of functionalized, recyclable components faster, more cost-effective, and more resource-efficient. In doing so, we are contributing our expertise in cross-scale simulation software.

 

Press Release / 23.03.2026

New Spin-Off: VTT – Virtual Tire Technologies

Research gives way to a new company: With the launch of »VTT – Virtual Tire Technologies GmbH«, our institute has established another spin-off company that will market and further develop the internationally sought-after tire modeling software »CDTire« worldwide.

 

Short News / 20.03.2026

Who Is Advancing to the Final?

The Mathematics Olympiad is a four-stage competition for exceptionally gifted students: after the school, regional, and state rounds in Rhineland-Palatinate, the top participants were honored as finalists at a ceremony at the Fraunhofer ITWM in Kaiserslautern. Intensive preparation in the Math Camp supported them along the way – now the best will compete in the federal final in Hamburg.

 

News/ 13.03.2026

New Mathematics for Retirement Planning

The reform of pension provision is also placing greater focus on research. Our experts in the department »Financial Mathematics« develop models and simulations for more transparent pension products and better consumer protection. Their work includes capital market simulations, models for assessing opportunities and risks, and new approaches to pension provision for the future.

 

Press Release/ 04.03.2026

Agentic Artificial Intelligence Accelerates Embedded Development

At the Embedded World Exhibition and Conference in Nuremberg, we are presenting a system together with RPTU that fundamentally accelerates the development of embedded AI applications: »Neural Architecture Search Engine (NASE)« with Hardware in the Loop.

 

News / 05.03.2024

Kaiserslautern Is ECMI Node For Two Weeks

The European Consortium for Mathematics in Industry (ECMI) has its own blog about news from the European maths community. In terms of content, every fortnight a different place is the so-called »Featured ECMI Node« and is responsible for the news. As of this week, we are posting together with the Department of Mathematics at the University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU) until 15.03.2026.

 

Press Release/ 25.02.2026

Digital Twin for Tire Wear »SUMERA«

Tire abrasion is one of the largest sources of microplastics in Europe – it pollutes the air, soil, and water. With the support of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, we are developing a digital model as part of the »SUMERA« project that comprehensively simulates tire abrasion for the first time and makes emissions predictable. Katharina Heil from the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health presented us with the funding approval.

Upcoming Events

 

Karlsruhe / Fair / 14.04. – 17.04.2026

PaintExpo 2026

PaintExpo is an international trade fair for industrial coating technology.

Our expert, Dr. Stefan Duran from the department »Material Characterization and Testing«, presents an exhibit on-site titled »Coating Thickness Measurement Using Terahertz Radiation«, with a focus on plastic components in combination with the determination of radar performance.

 

Frankfurt am Main / Fair / 21.04. – 24.04.2026

Techtextil 2026

Techtextil is the international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens. There, in Hall 12.0, Booth C78, we will be presenting software solutions for the simulation and modeling of spinning processes, textiles, and materials.

The focus will be on digital twins for spinning packages, simulation tools such as TexMath and VISPI, and virtual material design for filtration and lightweight construction.

 

Kaiserslautern / 23.04.2026

Girls' Day 2026

Girls' Day focuses on getting to know the work done at the institute: participants get a tangible impression of what research and work is done here. Experts present selected projects and female mathematicians report on their everyday working lives and possible career paths. In addition, there is a rally with a guided tour of the institute.

Registration Deadline: 21.04.2026

 

Kassel / Trade Exhibition / 28.04. – 29.04.2026

District Heating Symposium 2026

The Fachtage Fernwärme showcase the latest developments in pipe-based heat supply. The Focus in Workshops and specialist seminars will be on approaches to planning, simulation, and operation of modern heating networks. At booth 51, a team from our »Flow Processes« department will present our »AD Net Heat« software. 

 

Fürstenfeldbruck / Conference / 28.04.. – 29.04.2026

tank.tech 2026

tank.tech is an international conference on transformation processes, with a focus on fluid and energy systems. Under the motto »Challenges of the Mobility Sector with a Focus on Fuel Systems«, innovative fluid and energy storage systems are discussed. Our expert Dr. Jörg Kuhnert is on-site and gives a presentation entitled »MESHFREE Modeling and Simulation of Cleaning Processes«.

 

Berlin / Conference / 28.04. – 30.04.2026

Annual Conference DAV and DGVFM 2026

The annual conference provides a platform for professional exchange on current topics and developments in insurance and financial mathematics.

Our experts from the department »Financial Mathematics« are on site with an exhibit addressing current issues in actuarial risk management and a presentation on intergenerational equity.

 

42kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern / Workshop / 29.04.2026

C++ User Group Kaiserslautern 2026

Our department »High Performance Computing« organizes a user group meeting at 42kaiserslautern on topics related to C++ programming and associated tool environments.

At the event in 42kaiserslautern, Dr. Mirko Rahn gives a presentation on »A Practical Concurrent Queue and How It Can (Or Can’t) Be Implemented Using P0260R19«.

 

Bamberg / Conference / 05.05. – 07.05.2026

NAFEMS DACH 2026

The NAFEMS DACH Conference 2026 offers comprehensive information and networking opportunities in the field of computational simulation methods (CAE).

Our experts will be on site with three presentations on the topics of »GPU-Accelerated Mesh-Free Gas Dynamic Simulations«, »CAE Success Stories From Fraunhofer ITWM« and »A Hybrid Parallel PGAS Approach to Linear Solvers«. We will also be presenting our software tool »MESHFREE«.

 

Hanau / Conference / 19.05. – 20.05.2026

Automotive CAE Grand Challenge

At the Automotive CAE Grand Challenge conference, experts present solutions to challenges in virtual vehicle development.

Our »Material Simulation« department is on site, and our expert Dr. Hannes Grimm-Strele presents our new solution for simulating Sheet Molding Compounds (SMC), which we use to precisely model the production of fiber-reinforced plastics.

 

Geneva / Fair / 19.05. – 22.05.2026

INDEX 2026

 

»INDEX« is a trade fair for nonwoven fabrics. Our experts are on-site with their exhibition stand, providing information on topics related to spinning as well as various production processes. In addition, Dr. Maxime Krier gives a lecture on the topic »Enhancing Nonwoven Product Development Through Digital Twins«.

 

Stuttgart / Fair / 20.05. – 21.05.2026

Control Expert Days 2026

At the Control Expert Days, experts will present developments in industrial quality assurance. The event, featuring an exhibition and expert presentations, complements the leading international trade fair Control. Our »Image Processing and Inspection Systems« department will be present at the Fraunhofer Vision joint stand, and Dr. Henrike Stephani will give a presentation on AI in quality control.

 

Florence, Italy / Conference / 27.05. – 29.05.2026

EMMC20

The European Mechanics of Materials Conference (EMMC) is an international conference on materials mechanics that brings together researchers from various fields to discuss current developments and research findings.

Our experts, Dr. Martiva Stavole and Quirin Hoesch, from the division »Mathematics for Vehicles, Systems and Production« are each giving a lecture with a focus on »Cables, Hoses, and Flexible Structures«.

 

Yokohama / Conference / 27.05. – 29.05.2026

JSAE Annual Congress 2026

The JSAE Annual Congress 2026 Spring of the Japan Society of Automotive Engineers is a conference focusing on topics related to automotive engineering and the automotive industry. Our expert Francesco Calabrese from the »Mathematics for Vehicles, Systems and Production« division is on site with the talk »A Predictive Thermo-Mechanical Framework for Tire Temperature and Performance Modeling«.

 

Stuttgart / Fair / 09.06.2026 – 11.06.2026

Battery Show 2026

The Battery Show is a trade fair with an conference on battery technologies and electrification, which serves as a platform for discussing current innovations and challenges in the industry.

Dr. Jochen Zausch and Dr. Joachim Jonuscheit are represented with two exhibits. They present the topics »Digital Simulation Tools for Production and Design of Battery Cell« and our »Inline Thickness Measurement System for Anode and Cathode Foils«.

 

Kaiserslautern / Conference / 10.06.2026 – 11.06.2026

Commercial Vehicle Technology Symposium Kaiserslautern 2026

The conference on trends and developments in the commercial vehicle industry is taking place at the Fraunhofer ITWM. It includes specialist lectures and poster presentations and is accompanied by a trade exhibition.

Registration is required. 

 

Regular Seminars

Seminars of the Division »Mathematics for Vehicle Engineering«

In 2026, further training seminars of the division »Mathematics for Vehicle Engineering« will take place again!

We will keep you up to date here:

Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM

Fraunhofer-Platz 1

67663 Kaiserslautern

Deutschland

Phone +49 631 31600-0

Fax +49 631 31600-1099

 

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