Press Releases

How can errors and critical conditions in chemical plants be detected early on – even when only limited data is available? This is the question being addressed by the research group »AI-FOR: Deep Learning on Sparse Chemical Process Data«, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). Following successful results in the first funding phase, the DFG has now approved an additional five years of funding for a second phase. The research group has already developed new deep learning methods for anomaly detection and, for the first time, made extensive open datasets for chemical process data available. In addition to the University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), the Technical Universities of Munich and Dortmund, as well as our institute, are participating in the project.

Dr. Franziska Hekele demonstrates how diversity improves results and reduces misunderstandings. The interview was conducted by Mandy Bartel, originally for the Fraunhofer employee journal »Quersumme«. As a research associate at Fraunhofer ITWM, she develops avatars for pedestrian simulations in road traffic and for communication on construction sites. She is also currently the Equal Opportunity Officer at Fraunhofer ITWM. In this interview, the psychologist explains why different perspectives improve research, how her coming out at Fraunhofer went – and what helped her.

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and more intense worldwide. Fires often become infernos due to heat, drought and wind, especially in the summer. The problem is compounded by the climate crisis. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM and the startup CAURUS Technologies GmbH are responding to this growing global threat. They are collaborating to develop a machine learning system for more precise aerial firefighting that determines the fire situation in real time and calculates the optimum aerial drop time.

The battery factory of the future is increasingly digitalized. Simulations play a central role in developing new cells while intelligent sensor systems monitor production in real time. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM are developing methods that enable production processes to be mapped virtually and key parameters to be measured during production. The experts will be presenting their solutions for more stable production processes and higher-performance batteries at the Battery Show Europe 2026.

The Washington Institute for STEM, Entrepreneurship and Research (WISER) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM have successfully completed a joint research project as part of WISER’s Quantum and AI program, advancing the understanding of Quantum Machine Learning for real-world industrial use cases.

How can textile structures be developed more quickly, characterized precisely, and tailored to demanding applications – such as medicine, sports, mobility, or construction? The Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM shows how its software solutions support the textile industry with powerful simulation at Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main starting April 21, 2026. The goal is to shorten development times, optimize material usage, and reliably predict the behavior of textile structures virtually. The focus is on the software tools VISPI and TexMath.

Flexible structures such as cables and hoses are indispensable in modern technology – but their behavior is complex. In the European doctoral network »THREAD – Joint Training on Numerical Modeling of Highly Flexible Structures for Industrial Applications,« 14 young researchers worked on modeling these systems more precisely using mathematics. But the program was more than just research: it connected people, disciplines, and perspectives – and opened up sustainable career paths in science and industry. We present four of the graduates here:

A new simulation tool for plastics processors is designed to make the development of functionalized, recyclable components faster, more cost-effective, and more resource-efficient. The Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials IMWS in Halle (Saale) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial and Economic Mathematics ITWM in Kaiserslautern are combining their expertise in the areas of patented micro-/nanostructuring and cross-scale simulation software.

A new company has emerged from successful research in digital tire development: VTT – Virtual Tire Technologies GmbH, a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM, was launched in February 2026 to sustainably meet the rapidly growing global demand for the tire modeling software »CDTire« and to further develop the technology. The Fraunhofer ITWM and VTT will continue to work closely together in the future.

The reform of private pension provision is also placing greater emphasis on scientific principles. Researchers in the department »Financial Mathematics« at Fraunhofer ITWM are developing models and simulations that make insurance products more transparent, strengthen consumer protection, and enable new concepts for pension provision in the future.