Press releases

From February 4–5, industry, research, and space sector representatives met at Fraunhofer IPM in Freiburg to advance the New Space economy. They discussed how to transform New Space from individual missions into a scalable industry. What challenges does this industry face? During the event, over 60 participants from industry, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, New Space startups, and government aerospace institutions shared their insights.

Researchers at Fraunhofer IPM have developed a measurement method that determines the trajectory of rapidly moving small objects with micrometer precision in real-time. This method might provide a solution for target tracking, one of the unresolved issues in laser-based inertial fusion.

A fluorescence laser scanner makes it possible to measure the application of release agents in die casting processes. The measurement data provides the basis for controlling the application of release agents in metal die casting processes. Fraunhofer IPM will present the new method together with research partners at EUROGUSS 2026 in Nuremberg.

Parking spots are scarce in densely populated areas. To plan parking efficiently, authorities need precise data on the number of spots available on the streets. Street width is an important factor here, as it determines whether vehicles can park on one or both sides of a street. Fraunhofer researchers have developed new software that enables automatic and comprehensive street width detection.

A team of German and Indonesian researchers tested sensor technology for underwater and bathymetric measurements in Indonesian waters. The study included two LiDAR sensors from the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM. The sensors were purchased by HafenCity University Hamburg and used as part of a large-scale measuring campaign.

Nineteen young scientists from around the world visited three Fraunhofer institutes to gain insights into photonics research. The week-long trip, from 22 to 27 September, took them around Germany from Freiburg to Karlsruhe and Ettlingen, and then to Aachen. The Fraunhofer Photonica was organized by the Fraunhofer Light & Surfaces Group, under the direction of the Fraunhofer IPM.

The groundbreaking ceremony on July 22, 2025 marked the start of construction for the Engineering Center for Sustainability (Ingenieurzentrum Nachhaltigkeit – IZN) on Freiburg’s airport campus. The new building will foster closer collaboration between Freiburg’s five Fraunhofer institutes and the University of Freiburg under the umbrella of the Department of Sustainable Systems Engineering (INATECH).

The International Meeting on Chemical Sensors took place in Freiburg, Germany, from June 22 to 26. Over 300 experts from research and industry gathered to discuss scientific advances and industrial applications in chemical sensor technology.

Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) is more environmentally friendly than traditional extraction methods and unlocks new resources. In the recently launched LiMo-Praxis research project, Fraunhofer IPM and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are developing an optical method for real-time monitoring of lithium content in liquids for commercial lithium extraction.

An increasing number of municipalities are developing urban digital twins. As a rule, the more up-to-date and accurate the data, the more precisely processes can be simulated within a virtual city model. A mobile sensor box developed at Fraunhofer IPM collects highly accurate 3D geodata. Mounted on buses, taxis, or garbage trucks, the box allows the urban environment to be recorded at frequent intervals without the need for special measurement vehicles.