News

Kaiserslautern has appointed three new technology ambassadors: Fraunhofer ITWM Institute Director Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel, Prof. Dr. Arnd Poetzsch-Heffter from University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, and Frank G. Froux, founder and CEO of matelso GmbH.

The University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU) is a new member of the »Hochschulnetzwerk Bildung durch Verantwortung e.V.« (HBdV) network. The aim of the network is to promote partnerships between civil society organizations and universities and to facilitate mutual knowledge transfer.

The Fraunhofer ITWM Activity Report 2024/2025 focuses on the topic of »Production and Innovation.«

In addition to facts and figures, the activity report also provides insights into exciting projects and everyday work at the institute.

Many companies are saving time and materials by using artificial intelligence. To ensure that small and medium-sized companies also benefit from sustainable AI innovations, the state of Rhineland-Palatinate is supporting them with the new »KI4KMU-RLP« program. Companies in Rhineland-Palatinate can now apply for the pilot phase.

An important change in leadership strengthens the innovative power of Kaiserslautern as a center of science: After ten years of successful leadership, Dr. Konrad Steiner is handing over his role as managing director of the Performance Center for Simulation and Software-based Innovation to Dr. Nicolas Fröhlich.

How can small and medium-sized enterprises remain viable in times of skilled labor shortages, rapid digitalization, and growing competitive pressure? This question was the focus of a business meeting held at the Zweibrücken campus of Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences.

The construction fence is up, and its length gives an idea of the size of the building project: With two additional units, the Fraunhofer ITWM is expanding the Fraunhofer Center and closing the gap to the Institute for Surface and Film Technology IFOS on the »Research Mile.« Over the next two years, 228 office spaces will be created here on 3,200 m² of floor space.

This episode addresses the question of whether wine quality can be measured objectively – and whether artificial intelligence can help. Together with Marcel Hensel, they analyze a study that promises to do just that, but has serious methodological flaws. They show why the results are questionable and where data-driven approaches reach their limits.