Newsroom

Fraunhofer IZM and quantum tech company Nomad Atomics are teaming up on QuoGkA, a research project developing a compact atom gravimeter that will, in the future, measure gravitational fields from the air. The goal is to shrink measurement systems that have always been confined to the lab down to a size that fits comfortably on a drone. The breakthrough making this possible is a highly integrated glass bench developed at Fraunhofer IZM, which combines key optical components and a rubidium gas cell into a single unit. The result is precision gravity measurement that can finally leave the lab, opening up new possibilities in mining, environmental monitoring, and research.

In the European research project SUSTRONICS (SUStainable elecTRONICS), researchers from Fraunhofer IZM, together with 45 partners from research and industry and under the coordination of Philips Nederland B.V., are investigating how electronics for the healthcare sector and the automotive industry can be made more resource-efficient across their entire life cycle. The results show that alternative materials, optimized designs, and early-stage life cycle assessments can significantly reduce CO₂ emissions and resource consumption as early as the development phase. With its extensive expertise in life cycle analysis and environmental assessment, Fraunhofer IZM is making a particular contribution to the development of sustainable medical and diagnostic electronics.

Artificial intelligence promises to read and interpret medical data more efficiently and precisely. A sensor system for monitoring cardiological conditions, developed at Fraunhofer IZM, can become a powerful tool in the cardiologist’s arsenal with the power of AI.

How will emerging technologies such as electric mobility, renewable energy and artificial intelligence impact raw material demand? This question is addressed in the new edition of the “Raw Materials for Future Technologies” study which was presented today. In it the Fraunhofer Institutes ISI and IZM analyze the future development of 34 technologies and 14 raw materials on behalf of the German Raw Materials Agency (DERA) at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR). Early action is required in order to avoid supply bottlenecks and enable a sustainable transformation.

A new way to experience bioelectronics created by the union of applied research and media art: Somatic Circuits is an artwork by media artist Marlot Meyer, Fraunhofer IZM, and the curator Pierre Wolter (Gallery Art Claims Im-pulse) that turns communication via biological signals into a physical and aesthetical experience. The installation is made possible by flexible weara-bles created by the artist using technologies developed by the research group “Technologies for Bioelectronics,” bringing together sound, touch, and bodily perception in a multi-sensory network. The interactive art and science instal-lation will premiere from 2 to 4 July at the Festival of the Future in Munich.

Compact and stable laser amplifiers are essential to clear the path towards powerful quantum computing. Working with neQxt GmbH and EOT GmbH, Fraunhofer IZM is laying the groundwork for a reliable and strong European supply chain in this critical area of technology.

In the future, optical atomic clocks are expected to measure time 40,000 times more accurately than established atomic clocks. As part of the ISABELLA project, a consortium of industry and research partners has demonstrated key technologies for miniaturizing laser systems for this type of atomic clocks. These developments offer a wide range of benefits to sci- ence - from climate research to the verification of physical constants.

A significant reduction in energy consumption and CO₂ emissions through modular and easy-to-integrate GaN power semiconductors – this is the objective of the EU-funded All2GaN project. Forty-five partners from twelve countries are collaborating to unlock the energy-saving potential of gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors for a broad range of industrial applications. Fraunhofer IZM plays a key role across the value chain: leveraging its internationally recognized expertise in packaging technologies, the institute is developing innovative assembly solutions that are essential for the performance, miniaturization, and sustainability of next-generation GaN electronics.

Inverters are the heart of modern electric drives. They control the energy that flows from batteries to motors, giving them massive influence over efficiency and performance. Fraunhofer IZM has achieved an evolutionary leap for this most crucial technology: An innovative inverter that handles 500 kilowatts of power in a unit just one liter in volume. With its extremely low inductance promising 99 percent efficiency, it is time to fasten the seatbelts.

Electric cars should be better for the environment, powerful, but also affordable. However, the chargers built into them are hindering progress, as current models are reaching their limits in terms of efficiency, size, and reliability. The EU-funded HiPower 5.0 project aims to revolutionize this technology, with Fraunhofer IZM making an essential contribution.