Press Releases

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.

At the Embedded World Exhibition and Conference in Nuremberg, the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM, together with the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), is presenting a system that fundamentally accelerates the development of embedded AI applications: »Neural Architecture Search Engine (NASE)« with Hardware in the Loop.

Tire abrasion is one of the largest sources of microplastics in Europe, polluting the air, soil, and water. With the SUMERA project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM, with support from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, is developing a digital model that comprehensively simulates tire abrasion for the first time and makes emissions predictable.

The energy industry faces major challenges: security of supply, climate neutrality, and efficiency must all be achieved simultaneously. At E-world Energy and Water 2026, the industry's leading trade fair, the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM demonstrates how digital technologies and mathematical models are accelerating this transformation. With Digital Twins, researchers are laying the foundation for precise analyses, reliable forecasts, and intelligent control systems – and thus for a flexible, sustainable, and secure energy supply.