Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM
Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM

Latest News at the Institute

Here we collect current press releases, impressions of recent events, publications such as professional articles, professional portraits or interviews in online media or other interesting news. Each department and each division bundles these news according to subject area and interests on the individual pages. There they also provide further exciting information such as job vacancies or upcoming events.

In addition to the latest news, you will find further press releases and publications in our archive.

to all Press Releases

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

Book Article »Female Researchers in Focus« / 16.05.2025

»Keep at it and Don't Be Intimidated!«

This article is taken from our book »Female Researchers in Focus – We Create Change«. Our institute director Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel is involved in projects such as »LinTim« for optimized timetables in public transport and combines research and teaching with her passion for mathematics. Among other things, she talks about how she overcomes challenges.

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© freepik / Fraunhofer ITWM

Podcast Streuspanne Lexicon / 06.05.2025

W wie Wurstkatastrophe

Why do sausage-like spheres trigger sudden catastrophes? And what do convex hulls, clustering and optimal packing have to do with it?

From the arrangement of atoms in crystals to the perfect shape of the honeycomb, the podcast team explains what the mathematical phenomenon of the »Wurstkatastrophe« [German term for Sausage Disaster] is all about.

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© Antenne Kaiserslautern

Interview / 05.05.2025

Fraunhofer ITWM at Antenne Kaiserslautern

Ilka Blauth and Esther Packullat spoke in the breakfast format »Supp, Salat und Kaffee« at Antenne Kaiserslautern about our program at the upcoming »Nacht, die Wissen schafft«, which will take place on 09.05.2025. We from Fraunhofer ITWM will be represented with experiments, exhibits and hands-on activities at the »Marktplatz der Ideen« together with Fraunhofer IESE. Visitors also have the opportunity to get to know our research and the institutes better through various group tours.

 

© freepik / Fraunhofer ITWM

New Project / 02.05.2025

For the Pension Provision Debeka and Us Develop Objective Assessment Frameworks for Its Customer Service

Pension products are complex and difficult to compare. Together with Debeka, we develop scientifically sound models and evaluation frameworks that enable transparent and comprehensible presentation.

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© iStockphoto

Interview / 29.04.2025

Power Off – And No One Knows Why?

Our expert Mathias Dalheimer explains in an interview with Deutschlandfunk Nova possible reasons why regions such as Spain, Portugal and parts of southern France were unexpectedly without electricity. He also answers the question of whether a similar outcome is possible in Germany and explains how secure our electricity grids really are. 

 

© Fraunhofer IPA

Current issue »Qualität und Zuverlässigkeit« / 29.04.2025

Technical Article on Terahertz Measurement Technology Published

We have improved our terahertz measurement technology and offer new options for the inline inspection of batteries and wet coatings. Our article in the May issue of the magazine »Qualität und Zuverlässigkeit« explains the advantages and possible applications. You can download the article here [only available in German]:

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

Book Article »Female Researchers in Focus« / 25.04.2025

»Puzzles Are the Best Medicine: Xiaoyin Wants to Save Lives with Pictures«

This article is taken from our book »Female Researchers in Focus – We Create Change«. Dr. Xiaoyin Cheng combines research with the desire to do good. After completing her studies, she worked at the Fraunhofer ITWM on algorithms for image processing and AI solutions for the »PflegeForensik« project.

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

German Podcast Streuspanne / 15.04.2025

Artificial Intelligence With Depth

In the final episode of our mini-series on »Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Statistics«, we will be taking a deep dive – in the truest sense of the word.

Our podcast team ventures into the depths of the major language models and looks at GPT, Llama and Gemini, among others.

[The podcast is only available in German] 

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© Fotostudio Wiegel für Fraunhofer FFB

Press Release / 02.04.2025

Getting More Out of the Battery with Simulations

At the Battery Show from June 3 to 5, our scientists present innovations for electromobility: their research focuses on battery behavior during charging and discharging, the optimization of battery production and the aging of batteries.

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Interview / 01.04.2025

»Mobility Is Important for Living and Working in Rhineland-Palatinate«

Artificial Intelligence can help companies save costs, simplify everyday life and improve quality of life. In this interview, our Institute Director Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel – AI Pilot in the Mobility focus area since 2020 – and her scientific consultant Dr. Henrike Stephani talk about the plans for the next five years in the »AI Pilot« project:

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Press Release / 27.03.2025

Introduction to the Concepts of Machine Learning

Our head of institute, Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel, and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Franke from RPTU have published the book »Statistical Machine Learning for Engineering with Applications«, which provides a comprehensible introduction to the concepts of machine learning. In the interview, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Franke summarizes the special aspects of the book. 

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© freepik / Fraunhofer ITWM

German Podcast Streuspanne / 26.03.2025

The Curse of Simple Static Measures in Pivotal Studies

Can a single metric turn the coronavirus vaccine debate around? This time the focus of the new podcast episode: the new key figure Harm to Benefit Ratio suggests that the damage benefit ratio of vaccines can be better measured. But how reliable is this value really? We take a closer look and express doubts about the scientific methods.

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© Fraunhofer ITWM / freepik

New project / 19.03.2025

»KI4KMU-RLP«: AI for Manufacturing SME in Rhineland-Palatinate

The state of Rhineland-Palatinate supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) with the »KI4KMU-RLP« program in order to benefit from sustainable AI innovations. We help to identify use cases and submit funding applications. Companies in Rhineland-Palatinate can apply now until June 15, 2025. 

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

News / 13.03.2025

Artificial Intelligence meets Nanomedicine in our »Smart-Form« Project

The aim of the project is to use Artificial Intelligence to develop a platform to better predict and optimize how nanotherapeutics are produced. Together with the Fraunhofer IMM, we are pooling our expertise. Yesterday was the official handover of the funding decision from the Ministry of Science and Health of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. 

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

Introducing – Quirin Hoesch

From Aviation Pioneers to Curved Tubes

Quirin Hoesch, PhD student in the »Mathematics for the Digital Factory« department, has reached the halfway point of his doctorate after completing his Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering and a Master's degree in Computational Engineering. He introduces us to his research, which focuses on the mathematical analysis and simulation of fiber-reinforced hoses under internal pressure.

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© iStockphoto / ECMI

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).

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

Book Article »Female Researchers in Focus« / 28.02.2025

If It’s Difficult, It’s a Case for Dovilė

In our series from the book »Female Researchers in Focus – We Create Change«, we present Dr. phil. Dovilė Čibiraitė-Lukenskienė. After studying physics and completing her doctorate, she worked for three years as a research assistant at the Fraunhofer ITWM. In the article, she talks about her career and her research in the field of terahertz technology.

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

News / 27.02.2025

Annual Meeting »SynphOnie«

A »good« transport service has short travel times, low costs, and minimal CO₂ emissions. The »SynphOnie« project creates mathematical models for efficient, sustainable, and economical transportation planning. At the annual meeting in Passau, topics discussed included the need for a light rail system, the usefulness of timetabled bus services, and the role of ridepooling as a useful addition.

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM / Foto by Sousa

Book Article »Women Researchers in Focus« / 21.02.2025

A Question of Personality

Do women work differently to men and does the interaction of mixed teams have an impact on science? Dr. Isabel Michel and Dr. Jörg Kuhnert report on their day-to-day work in the book »Female Researchers in Focus«. They jointly develop the »MESHFREE« software and work with other researchers on grid-free simulation projects at the Fraunhofer ITWM.

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© RPTU / Thomas Koziel

News / 13.02.2025

RLP funds AI Project for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

AI offers potential for optimization in production – the KI4KMU-RLP project helps SMEs to leverage and apply this potential. Experts from Fraunhofer ITWM, Fraunhofer IESE, RPTU and DFKI are collaborating on this initiative. The Minister of Economic Affairs, presented the grant amounting to 1.5 million euros.

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

News / 13.02.2025

EURO Board of Directors Discusses »Operational Research«

The board of the Association of European Operational Research Societies (EURO) meets at our institute. Scientists exchange views on various topics in the field of Operations Research (OR). Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel, our Institute Director and President of EURO since 2022, hands over her office in rotation and becomes Vice President for one year.

 

© Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Gesundheit

News / 12.02.2025

Funding for AI Pilots in Rhineland-Palatinate

In order to transfer knowledge about the possible applications of artificial intelligence into practice in a targeted manner, the state is providing funding totaling 160,000 euros over the next two years. These funds will support the work of the two AI pilots in Rhineland-Palatinate: Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel and Prof. Dr. Stefan Kramer.

 

© Isabel Nabuurs

Presse Release / 05.02.2025

Dynamic Electricity Prices and Flexibility Marketing for Schoonschip

Since January 2025, the floating energy community Schoonschip of 30 houses has been connected to energy and flexibility markets. Our solution makes it possible to forecast consumption and generation to optimize the use of electricity.

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© freepik / Fraunhofer ITWM

Podcast Streuspanne / 04.02.2025

Can Statistics Be Used to Predict the Next Federal Chancellor?

In the latest episode of the »Streuspanne« podcast, we take a look at election polls and their uncertainties. On the occasion of Donald Trump's surprising re-election, we take a look at how forecasts are made, what pitfalls they have and how we can assess their quality. Elections are also coming up in Germany – can we expect a similar surprise here?

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Press Release / 28.01.2025

Ministry Funds New Quality Assurance Project

All companies want to produce as efficiently as possible, make optimum use of their machines and avoid wasting resources. In the new Re(Pro)³ project, we are researching how inline process and product monitoring can help companies achieve this. The Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health is funding the project.

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© EURO

News / 27.01.2025

Happy Birthday EURO!

Today, the Association of European Operational Research Societies (EURO) celebrates its 50th birthday! Half a century of innovation and collaboration in the field of operations research. This day also marks the start of the »Operational Research Awareness Day«, which will take place every year on January 27. Our institute director Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel is President of the EURO. We develop mathematical models and algorithms to optimize complex decisions under the keyword »Operational Research«.

 

© Freepik / Fraunhofer ITWM

Podcast Streuspanne / 24.01.2025

Mini Series »Artificial Intelligence and Statistics« – »Shallow Learning«

In the third episode of our mini series, we look at the topic of »Shallow Learning«. Listen in and join us as we answer the following questions: What exactly is it all about? What challenges does this form of AI entail and what does it have to do with the McDonald's ordering system and Microsoft's chatbot? [Our podcast is only available in German]

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© iStockphoto

Press Release / 23.01.2025

E-world Energy and Water 2025

Saving energy and using it sensibly – this goal runs through many of our projects. That's why we will be at E-world Energy and Water 2025 in Essen from February 11 to 13 to present our latest developments in the context of »Using AI, Digital Twins and Smart Algorithms to Achieve a Resource-Efficient Energy Industry«.

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© freepik / Fraunhofer ITWM

News / 15.01.2025

»STANCE« Whitepaper

The new whitepaper is about neuromorphic technologies that enable efficient computing solutions inspired by the human brain. As part of the »STANCE« alliance, we are promoting this progress and facilitating access for companies and research. The STANCE Knowledge Hub serves as a central platform that pools knowledge, breaks down barriers and connects researchers with industry.

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© Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG)

News / 14.01.2025

Quantum Computing in 2025

The United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). They are therefore honoring the 100th anniversary of the development of quantum mechanics.

As a place of quantum research, we at Fraunhofer ITWM are participating in the anniversary year with educational programs and other events.

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Interview RHEINPFALZ Newspaper With the Head of the Institute / 08.01.2025

»We Are All Pulling Together in Research«

In the interview, Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel talks about her everyday life as head of the institute and her research activities. Among other things, the interview covers mobility, the lack of young talent and current energy issues. She also provides insights into the ongoing projects at the Fraunhofer ITWM.

Archive: Latest News at the Institute

Here you can find all news teasers from previous years.

News of the Departments and Division

Current projects, articles and news of the individual departments and divisions at Fraunhofer ITWM

Optimization
Flow and Materialsimulation
Transport Processes
System Analysis, Prognosis and Control
Mathematics for Vehicle Engineering
Image Processing
High Performance Computing
Financial Mathematics
Materials Characterization and Testing