Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM

Latest News

Here we will inform you about the latest research topics, upcoming events and other news of the division »Optimization«.

PhD Students

We are permanently looking for PhD students in applied mathematics or process engineering. The offered doctoral theses are located in the fields of mathematical methods in process engineering and logistics.

Focusing is possible within the following topics depending on the interests of the doctoral candidate:

Multicriteria optimization in molecular dynamics
Planning of emergency locations under dynamic conditions
Optimal allocation of marketing budgets
Robust optimization in tactical supply chain management
Planning for the harvesting
Multicritical mixed-integer optimization for the use of renewable energies

News

Shortnews / 28.3.2023

»Corona in RLP – A Wastewater Study«

With wastewater analyses on Corona and the scientific accompanying study »Observation and Early Warning System for SARS-CoV-2 Infections« (»SentiSurv«), scientists of our division »Optimization« and the department »Transport Processes« investigate the transition of the pandemic to endemicity in Rhineland-Palatinate (RLP).

Video Report / 8.3.2023

Getting a Job as a Mathematician

Between strong coffee, dedicated project work, exciting online meetings and new algorithms – ARD alpha Uni accompanied our colleague Dr. Tobias Seidel in his everyday life at Fraunhofer ITWM. This short report makes one thing clear: even at the beginning of their careers, mathematicians change the world a little bit for the better – in line with our motto »Mathematics for a Good Future«. [Only available in German]

Press Release / 27.2.2023

Faster to Reliable PCR Test Result

It sounds fun, but it is serious science, and that is why it is being funded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health: FAST-MoPPS is the name of a new project for the development of mobile PCR tests. Ministerial Director Daniel Stich handed over the funding notification to the two Fraunhofer Institutes involved, IMM and ITWM, in Mainz.

Research News / 1.9.2022

Algorithms for Manufacturing mRNA-Based Pharmaceuticals

In addition to the development of a Corona vaccine, the company BioNTech is also interested in research on personalized mRNA-based therapy against cancer. For both applications, a team of ITWM researchers has developed two software platforms for the optimal planning and control of the production processes in cooperation with BioNTech.

Press Release / 29.6.2022

Rhineland-Palatinate Looks Ahead to Autumn

For a good two and a half years now, the Corona virus has been presenting our society with ever new challenges. What have we learned so far in dealing with the pandemic and what do we need to prepare for in the coming months? Minister President Malu Dreyer discussed these questions with the Corona team of experts, which includes our Division Director Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Küfer.

to the press release of the state government of Rhineland-Palatinate

Press Release / 22.6.2022

Prof. Rangaraj Is the First Fellow of the Fraunhofer ITWM

Science lives from the exchange, not only with the colleagues on site; equally important are impulses from outside. Therefore, we have established a Fellow Program: Prominent guest scientists come to the institute and dedicate themselves to a topic together with our researchers. We asked our first Fellow Prof. Rangaraj a few questions.

Newsletter / 10.6.2022

Further Develop Corrosion Protection

We are involved in the EU project VIPCOAT for innovative corrosion protection technologies. In a just published newsletter our colleague Dr. Peter Klein talks about his work in the project:

Interviews / 10.6.2022

Is a Corona Summer Wave Coming?

Is the Omikron BA.5 variant threatening another Corona wave this summer? This question was posed by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) to our institute director Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel, among others.

SWR also looked at the spread of the latest variant and interviewed our »Optimization« Division Manager Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Küfer on the subject.

[both only available in German]

Press Release / 9.6.2022

Using Energy Efficiently With Math

The topic of energy is more present than ever before: Both industry and private households are facing new challenges.

Our Experts have been developing innovative methods and models for the energy sector for several years. From June 21 to 23, the researchers will present the most exciting energy projects at the leading trade fair E-world.

Press Release / 23.3.2022

Ministerial Director hands over funding notification for ENERDIG

The efficient use of energy is becoming increasingly important. The state government of Rhineland-Palatinate also wants to combat climate change and is therefore promoting our »ENERDIG« project. Ministerial Director Daniel Stich handed over the funding notification to Institute Director Anita Schöbel and Project Manager Dietmar Hietel. [Only available in German]

Shortnews / 8.3.2022

Scalable Production of ATMPs (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products)

ATMPs are a groundbreaking development for the treatment of cancer or hereditary diseases as well as regenerative medicine. Our division »Optimization« was involved in the publication of a Fraunhofer position paper on this from the »Pharmaproduction« innovation programme.

German Positions Papier (ipa.fraunhofer.de)

Annual Report 2021/2022 Has Been Published

The highlight projects from our department in the current annual report can be downloaded here as a PDF:

New Projects in the Division

© Fraunhofer ITWM
Komplexe Netzwerke in der Trinkwasserversorgung

COpt2 – Saving Energy in the Drinking Water Industry

The BMBF sponsored project, H₂Opt, provides prototype software that supports energy efficient design and operation of drinking water plants. It results in energy and cost savings during planning and operations involving the drinking water supply. The software is in daily use at the energy company EWR, located in Worms, Germany. Launched in 2019, a follow-up project is to expand the prototype for the more complex water supply networks in Landau and Jockgrim. We simplify and improve workflows and develop new concepts to prevent water supply shortages. The project is funded by the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRE). Initially, the priority is the investigation of pumping operations because that is where an estimated 30 percent on average can be saved in energy costs.

Brachytherapie — © Varian Medical Systems

Decision Support for Brachytherapy

In collaboration with Varian Medical Systems, our multi-criteria decision support system has been embedded in the world's leading radiotherapy planning software for cancer patients. Our goal for next year is to make interactive planning available not only for external radiation therapies (IMRT, VMAT) but also for brachytherapy. This therapy directs the radiation source either on the immediate vicinity of the tumor or into the tumor itself, raising new questions that have to be solved, for example, regarding the optimal positioning of the catheter for directing the radiation.

Events

Mainz and Online / Hybrid Event / 11.10.2023

Central Event of the Sixth Demography Week

The motto of this year's Demography Week is »Digital Opportunities for Demographic Change«.

Our expert, Dr. Alexander Scherrer, will give a lecture and our institute director, Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel, will take part in the following panel discussion.

Berlin, Conference / 26.09.2023 - 27.09.2023

KIP Network Meeting »Making Repositories and AI Systems Useful in Everyday Care«

On September 26 and 27, the KIP network meeting will take place. BMBF funding programs will be presented among them is »ViKI pro«, in which we are participating via the division »Optimization«. Our employees Dr. Alexander Scherrer and Dr. Maximilian Pilz will be on site.

Fraunhofer ITWM, Kaiserslautern / Workshop / 05.10. – 06.10.2023

Mathematical Methods in Process Engineering (MMiPE)

The international workshop, hosted by the High Performance Center Simulation and Software Based Innovation, is all about »Mathematical Methods in Process Engineering« with a focus on modeling, simulation and optimization.

Berlin / Seminar / 06.09.2023 – 07.09.2023

DigiHubs: research. network. share

At the seminar »DigiHubs: research. network. share«, various projects on the topic of »Improving regional health care through digital innovations« will be presented.

Dr. Alexander Scherrer from the department »Optimization in Life Sciences« will be on site from Fraunhofer ITWM and will present our project DECIDE.