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

 

Press Release / 24.08.2026

Digital Twins and Advanced Inspection Technology for Shipbuilding

Our researchers use MESHFREE to develop new simulation approaches for complex maritime processes, alongside measurement systems for the non-destructive testing of composite materials. This makes it possible to simulate ship movements and wave interactions, for example, and to inspect hulls, decks and bonded joints for internal defects using terahertz and millimeter waves.

 

Press Release / 04.08.2026

Ministerial Visit to Fraunhofer ITWM

As part of their discovery tour across Rhineland-Palatinate, Minister for Economic Affairs Michael Ebling and Minister for Science Clemens Hoch visited our institute in Kaiserslautern. The visit focused on digital twins for tires, the expansion of our technical center, and the continued development of our research site.

 

Activity Report / 29.07.2026

Our 2025 Activity Report Is Here!

What moved us in the past year? Which projects did we advance, and what have our researchers been working on? In our new Activity Report, we take you behind the scenes of our institute and provide insights into exciting research projects, events, and highlights from 2025. The focus is on our key topics: Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing. The activity report is only available in German.

 

Article / 20.07.2026

55 Years of Measureme-nt Technology Meets AI

How are solutions created that combine artificial intelligence with industrial practice? In an interview with the trade magazine »möbelfertigung«, Michael Hettich from Hecht AG and our colleague Markus Rauhut, Head of the »Image Processing and Inspection Systems« Department, provide insights into the joint development of future-oriented approaches for quality control in the furniture industry.

 

Interview / 20.07.2026

AI Isn’t Enough – The Combination of Models, Simulation and Know-ledge Makes It Powerful

The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding the research group »AI-FOR« for another five years. In the interview, Prof. Dr. Michael Bortz offers insights into the second funding phase and the potential of AI-based methods for chemical engineering.

 

Press Release / 09.07.2026

Quantum Computing Application Phase

»INQUBATOR« helps companies get started with quantum computing in an accessible and cost-effective way. Starting now, companies of all sizes can apply with their applications to develop customized solutions in collaboration with a Fraunhofer partner and test the potential of quantum algorithms.

Application deadline: August 31, 2026.

 

Interview / 03.07.2026

Gender Diversity at Fraunhofer ITWM

Diversity is an integral part of our institute’s corporate philosophy.

In this interview, our colleague Dr. Franziska Hekele explains why different perspectives enrich research, how she experienced coming out at Fraunhofer, and what has encouraged her along the way.

 

Research News / 01.07.2026

More Precise Fire Extinguishing From the Air Using Simulation and Sensor Data

To provide more targeted support to emergency responders in aerial firefighting, our researchers are collaborating with CAURUS Technologies GmbH to develop a machine-learning system that analyzes the fire situation in real time and calculates the optimal time for water drops.

Upcoming Events

 

Trento, Italy / Conference / 29.08.2026 – 02.09.2026

PPSN 2026

As part of the PPSN Conference, the workshop »Quantum versus Classical Optimization: Synergies and Boundaries« takes place, which promotes the exchange of ideas on quantum-based and classical optimization approaches.

Dr. Pascal Halffmann is a co-organizer of the workshop and contributes his expertise to the discussions.

 

Passau / Conference / 01.09.2026 – 04.09.2026

Operations Research (OR) 2026

The OR 2026 is an international conference on current developments in decision optimization that fosters exchange between research and industry.

Our expert Yannick Becker from the department »Financial Mathematics« attends the event and provides insights into the exact reduction of uncertainty sets in min-max regret optimization.

 

Hamburg / Fair / 01.09. – 04.09.2026

SMM 2026

The »Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine Technology« is the leading trade fair for the maritime industry. Experts from the »Material Characterization and Testing« department present terahertz measurement technology for the non-destructive testing of composites. Experts from the »Grid-Free Methods« department present the »MESHFREE« simulation software, which works without a rigid computing grid and is also suitable for maritime applications.

 

Krakau, Polen / Konferenz / 02.09. – 04.09.2026

Conference EURO Working Group on Transportation 2026

The 2026 Annual Meeting of the EURO Working Group on Transportation provides a platform for exchanging ideas on current topics in transportation research. Our experts Klara Hoffmann and Michael Rihlmann from the »Dynamics, Loads and Environmental Data« department present approaches for traffic reduction and timetable optimization.

 

Malmö, Sweden/ Conference / 08.09. – 12.09.2026

ECCV 2026

The European Conference on Computer Vision (ECCV) 2026 is an international research conference focusing on the latest developments in computer vision and machine learning.

Our colleague Linghui Liu from the »Image Processing and Inspection Systems« department will be presenting the topic »Unsupervised Visual Concept Bottlenecks for Interpretable Bioimage Classification« in a talk at the conference.

 

Online / Workshop / 16.09.2026

AI4LUNGS Awareness Workshop

How can Artificial Intelligence support the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases? The »AI4Lungs« project and the accompanying »AI4LUNGS Awareness Workshop« are dedicated to addressing this question.

The online event provides practical insights into current AI solutions for the healthcare sector and demonstrates how these solutions can already support clinical decision-making today. 

 

Karlsruhe / Conference / 16.09. - 17.09.2026

IPG Apply & Innovate 2026

Apply & Innovate 2026 is an international technology conference focusing on current trends in the automotive industry, with an emphasis on virtual vehicle development.

Our colleague Sebastian Emmerich from the »Dynamics, Loads and Environmental Data« department will present how realistic environmental conditions are taken into account in the simulation-based analysis of tire wear.

 

Akron, USA / Conference / 22.09. – 23.09.2026

Annual Conference on Tire Science and Technology 2026

The Annual Conference on Tire Science and Technology 2026 is an international conference on current developments in tire research. Our colleague Francesco Calabrese from the division »Mathematics for Vehicles, Systems and Production« is attending the event and will give a talk on thermomechanical tire modeling.

 

Wiesbaden / Conference / 29.09.2026

VDI x ASQF Future Forum 2026

The Future Forum 2026 provides a platform for exchanging ideas on quantum technologies, quantum computing, and space technologies.

Dr. Pascal Halffmann, Head of the Department of Financial Mathematics, will present »Quantum Computing: Fundamentals, Practical Applications & Quality Assurance.«

 

Garbsen, Germany / Conference / 29.09. – 30.09.2026

Eurotyre 2026

The VDI conference »Eurotyre« provides a platform for discussing innovations, technologies, and current challenges related to tires, suspensions, and roads.

Our expert Francesco Calabrese from the division »Mathematics for Vehicles, Systems and Production« is on site and presents a physical model for predicting temperature-dependent tire behavior in his talk.

 

Kaiserslautern / Conference / 01.10.2026

Innovations from Kaiserslautern

Our division »Analytics and Computing« provides insights into the latest developments in our research and their practical applications in the fields of AI, simulation, and strategic modeling.

The program features expert presentations and discussions, as well as opportunities for professional exchange with our experts.

 

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

 

Latest News at the Institute