Future-oriented key technologies in microelectronics and microsystems technology (MST) will be presented at the MST Congress in Ludwigsburg from November 8 to 10, 2021. The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS will participate at the joint booth of the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany (FMD). In numerous lectures and poster sessions, the institute will present current results and developments from the fields of intelligent MEMS-based sensor and actuator technology for applications in medical technology, chemical analytics and Industry 4.0.

The TSN/A conference has become one of the most important international meetings of experts in the field of industrial Ethernet standards. With the help of Time Sensitive Networking (TSN), standard Ethernet gains a new dimension through time-synchronous and deterministic data transmission. How these technologies will affect industry, automotive and the audio-video-consumer world are the central questions of this year's conference. Marcus Pietzsch from the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS will take a closer look at the latency of time-critical networks in his workshop.

Metal processing with lasers and plasma releases many different pollutants into the ambient air. The Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS, together with partners, has developed a filter system that efficiently removes these substances from the air. The filter can be adapted to the various materials and substances released in each case. In the future, the technology will be used in other applications, such as additive manufacturing.

Sensors have become the ubiquitous companions of our lives. Whether knowingly or not, we use them every day to collect, process, and interpret data and help us make sense of the world around us. The demand for connected devices keeps growing – in particular in the Internet of Things, or IoT for short. The Fraunhofer flagship project ZEPOWEL has shown successfully how all of these sensor systems can become extremely energy efficient or even completely autonomous. The potential result: Up to 20% less carbon emissions in Germany alone.

In September and October, the "all about automation" (aaa) trade fair will once again offer face-to-face events for regional users and suppliers of the automation industry. The high demand for professional communication is reflected in the fact that the lecture area of the trade fair is already fully booked. The presence fair is supplemented by the integral components of the "aaa digital plus". Thereby formats such as blogs, video blogs, webinars and community newsletters transfer the specialized knowledge in a virtual way into the Community.

Conventional processes for manufacturing battery electrodes involve mostly toxic solvents and require a lot of space and energy. This is not the case with DRYtraec^® – a new dry-coating process developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS. The technology is environmentally friendly and cost effective and can be used on a large scale, giving it the potential to revolutionize the manufacturing of battery electrodes.

Is the driver tired or even asleep? Cameras in the vehicle’s interior can already monitor this. Especially in the case of automated driving, interior cameras are important and prescribed by law. A new system developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation IOSB is the world’s first to be able to use image data to draw conclusions about the driver’s activity and analyze how quickly they would be able to take control of the vehicle.

Fraunhofer researchers have developed an intelligent coating for glass windows that darkens in the sun. This uses electrochromic and thermochromic materials that react to electricity and heat. In buildings with large glass façades, it stops the rooms from getting too hot because of solar radiation, thereby reducing the demand for energy-intensive air conditioning.

How can we shape mobility in an eco-friendly way? How are new mobility con-cepts changing our cities? How will we get from A to B in the future? At two Munich sites at the IAA 2021 from September 7 to 12, 2021, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s institutes will be showcasing their expertise and putting forward their concepts and solutions for tomorrow’s mobility.

As a partner of the Fraunhofer Competence Network Quantum Computing, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) is planning to use the quantum computer in Ehningen, Baden-Württemberg, to develop individually effective cancer treatment methods in the future.