Press Releases

The new Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network AIPD is dedicated to investigating artificial intelligence methods to combat Parkinson's disease. It seeks to enhance early diagnosis and treatment of this neurodegenerative disease. The network was now officially launched with a kick-off meeting at the University of Bonn. Master's graduates can apply for doctoral positions across Europe until the end of February 2025.

In a significant move towards advancing AI and data analytics in healthcare, the Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi and the Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing SCAI in Germany have announced a collaboration on AI-based precision medicine and data analytics. The partnership will leverage population health research on new data classes, clinical care, and evidence-based healthy longevity medicine.

New machine learning methods are enabling better understanding and processing of crash test development data. The SAFECAR-ML project is developing an automated solution for documenting virtual crash tests based on artificial intelligence (AI). The aim is to simplify and enhance the efficiency of the design process.

The SYNTHIA project applies innovative AI methods to generate synthetic patient data. This approach could help overcome data protection hurdles when sharing medical data, improve predictive models for precision medicine, and even emulate clinical studies. The project is funded by the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI), a partnership for health research and innovation between the EU and Europe’s life science industries.

Fraunhofer SCAI coordinates the COMMUTE project, backed by a grant from the European Commission. Over the next four years, an interdisciplinary team of top-tier experts will explore whether COVID-19 infections increase the risk of acquiring neurodegenerative diseases. An innovative AI-driven system is being developed to provide tailored risk assessments for individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

Despite the challenging economic situation, the Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing SCAI looks back on a very successful 2022. In 2021, the share of industrial revenues in the operating budget had risen from 45.3 to 52.9 percent. Last year, it reached a new record of 60 percent, marking the highest score in SCAI's history. The main reason for the increased industrial revenues totaling 8.8 million euros is the revenue from licensing the institute's successful software solutions.

What happens when we breathe in nanoparticles emitted by a laser printer, for example? Could these nanoparticles damage the respiratory tract or perhaps even other organs? To answer these questions, Fraunhofer researchers are developing the “NanoCube” exposure device. The Nanocube’s integrated multi-organ chip set up in the laboratory of the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin) and by its spin-off organization “TissUse” detects interaction between nanoparticles and lung cells, the uptake of nanoparticles into the bloodstream and possible effects on the liver.

The EU-funded project REMEDi4ALL will make a major leap forward in drug repurposing, or finding new therapeutic options for existing drugs, in areas with high unmet medical needs.

The transport sector is transforming towards climate-friendly powertrains with significantly reduced CO2 emissions. The electrification of powertrains remains a major challenge not only for trucks, buses, trains, and ships but also for aircraft. These applications cannot be realized in the future with batteries because of the energy requirements. The fuel cell is an extremely promising energy supplier for these applications, which supplies electrical energy from stored hydrogen and ambient air.

What happens if Russia completely stops gas supplies to Europe? Fraunhofer IEG, Fraunhofer SCAI, and TU Berlin have analyzed the situation by accurately modeling the entire European gas network. The result: Since it is impossible to rebuild the technical infrastructure so quickly, Germany will have a shortfall of 30 percent of the natural gas volume in the coming winter compared to the previous year. Targeted technical measures could reduce the deficit to 20 percent, provided Europe acts in a coordinated manner.