Press Releases

With 8.85 million euros in funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), Fraunhofer IFAM is establishing a new research infrastructure for wind energy. The FOKUS-Wind project will create Germany’s first end-to-end testing and validation chain for autonomous systems in offshore wind farms across the institute’s sites in Bremen, Cuxhaven, and Heligoland. The infrastructure will enable companies and research organizations to develop, test, and qualify drones, robotic systems, and sensors under realistic operating conditions. The aim is to support their reliable and cost-effective use for the inspection, maintenance, and condition monitoring of offshore wind farms.

Seawater and brackish water could serve as alternative water sources for hydrogen production. The challenge is that conventional electrolyzers require high-purity water that needs extensive treatment. In the SeaEly project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM investigated how suitable seawater and brackish water are for hydrogen production and what testing and evaluation infrastructure is needed.

With the construction of a new prototyping centre, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM in Dresden is expanding its research infrastructure in the field of hydrogen technologies. The new building, situated within the Fraunhofer Institute Centre Dresden, will in future provide the facilities needed to manufacture, further develop and test electrodes for alkaline water electrolysis (AEL/AEM) on an industrially relevant scale under conditions close to real-world applications. The build-ing is scheduled for completion in summer 2028.

Hydrogen use is a key component of decarbonization, but ensuring the long-term operation of electrolysers and fuel cells is challenging. Fluctuating operating conditions lead to wear and performance losses. Fraunhofer IFAM has now achieved a decisive breakthrough with dynamic impedance spectroscopy: This diagnostic method enables precise analysis during operation, detects overloads in real time, and identifies weak points at an early stage. This allows for the targeted optimization of resilience and efficiency, extends the service life of the systems, and reduces operating costs – a technological leap with enormous potential for the hydrogen economy.

At ILA 2026, Fraunhofer IFAM presents “HYTANK” project results on the efficient production of lightweight hydrogen tanks for zero-emission aviation

Which technologies are making aerospace safer and more competitive? And how can new propulsion systems, sustainable materials and satellite technologies be produced economically? Under the direction of Fraunhofer AVIATION & SPACE, researchers from the Fraunhofer‑Gesellschaft will be presenting answers to these questions at ILA, the leading international aerospace trade show, which will take place in Berlin from June 10 to 14, 2026.

At PCIM Expo 2026 in Nuremberg, Fraunhofer IFAM, Fraunhofer IMWS and Fraunhofer USA will jointly host an industry workshop focusing on advanced cooling technologies for next-generation high-performance electronics.

On June 1, 2026, Dr. Dirk Niermann handed over leadership of the Fraunhofer IFAM Stade branch to the next generation in order to begin building up the aerospace business unit at Fraunhofer IFAM in Bremen

Plasmatreat GmbH and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM are expanding their collaboration specifically in the field of environmentally friendly coating technologies. The focus is on technology transfer and the rapid industrial implementation of the PFAS-free low-pressure plasma coating systems PLASLON® and UltraPLAS®, which were developed by Fraunhofer IFAM. Plasmatreat contributes its system and application expertise, acts as a contract coater and equipment manufacturer, and thus enables the application of these technologies in various industrial fields.

At Hannover Messe 2026, Fraunhofer IFAM in Stade, Germany, together with its partners, will present the Machine Tool Robot (MTR), honored with the second place of the Robotics Award 2026, as well as other automated, high-precision machining, joining and assembly technologies, right up to humanoid robotics