Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM
Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM

2020

Here we collect press releases, impressions of events, publications such as professional articles, professional portraits or interviews in online media or other interesting news from 2020. Each department and each area bundles these news according to subject area and interests on the individual pages. There they also provide further exciting information such as job vacancies or upcoming events.

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

Press Release / 10.12.2020

Open Data and Analysis Platform for Greater Energy Efficiency Through Smart Meter

The Fraunhofer ITWM is contributing to the development of the "Open Energy Meter Data" platform, which aims to create a web-based contact point for collecting and analyzing energy consumption data. This data represents an important basis for innovations in energy system transformation, whether for the creation of smart grids, efficiency measures or business models based on artificial intelligence.

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Blog Post / Streuspanne / 9.12.2020

Is There a Delay in Infection Between Different Age Groups?

Here in the blog we have recently dealt with the dark figure of corona infections and the statistical characteristics of the tests. This time we ask the question: If we take measures today, will they affect all age groups at the same time?

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Press Release / 9.12.2020

Fraunhofer ITWM Optimizes Location Planning for Vaccination Centers

A vaccine against Covid-19 is expected soon. How many vaccine doses are available? Who should be vaccinated first? Where should people be vaccinated? How many doctors are needed for vaccination? Our researchers have examined the last questions together with the RKI and TUK.

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Kurznews [only available in German] / 1.12.2020

Interviews zur Studie im Fahrsimulator RODOS

Wir haben drei unserer Testfahrer:innen über die Studie im Fahrsimulator RODOS befragt. Ziel der Studie: Erkenntnisse zu erhalten, wie sich autonome Fahrzeuge auf den Verkehr auswirken.

Fraunhofer ITWM vs. Corona / 30.11.2020

New Paper about our EpideMSE-Tool

The new paper by Dr. Robert Feßler »EpideMSE: A General Integral Equation Model for Epidemics« formulates a general epidemic model based on an integral equation and identifies common SEIR and dSEIR models as special cases. Different properties of the general model, such as the initial development of the epidemic and the infestation, are described as functions of the integral kernel, and a formula for the reproduction number is given. On this basis, the SEIR and dSEIR models are then compared in two different ways and it is shown that the calculation of the reproduction rate depends on the epidemic model.

 

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Interview with insideHPC / 16.11.2020

»GaspiLS, a Scalable Linear Solver Library for the Exascale Age«

Also our colleague Dr. Daniel Grünewald informs in an interview about our work in the field of HPC. He talks about GaspiLS – our scalable linear solver library. More about this in the interview:

 

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Interview with insideHPC / 16.11.2020

»Where HPC Meets Interactive Machine Learning«

Our colleague Phillpp Reusch is working on the development of CARME – a framework for managing resources for multiple users. CARME combines machine learning with HPC back-end. Read more about the latest developments in CARME in the interview with insideHPC.

Blog Post / 5.11.2020

Mathematics and Big Data in the Field - Cognitive Services Support Agriculture

In the Fraunhofer Lighthouse Project COGNAC, our experts develop mathematical tools for data analysis and plant growth modeling that help to analyze highly complex situations where decisions often have to be made as quickly as possible. In the blog of the IESE , our colleagues Dr. Michael Burger and Dr. Jochen Fiedler explain how »Mathematics and Big Data are used in the field«.

 

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Press Release / 2.11.2020

Rapid Prototyping: Testing Heavy Equipment in Software

The process of developing new generations of commercial vehicles and heavy equipment is complex. The hardware-in-the-loop technique gives our researchers the opportunity to reproduce and virtually test machines in a software simulation, making machine development faster and more affordable. This technology also enables the testing of malfunctions and critical borderline situations.

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Press Release / 28.10.2020

Quantum Computing for Energy Economics

New BMWi Project at Fraunhofer ITWM: In the joint project »EnerQuant: Fundamental Modeling in Energy Economics with Quantum Algorithms«, the advantages of quantum computing are now to be used for an optimization problem in energy economics.

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Project Website

Decision Support for Health Authorities

In the Fraunhofer project "CorASIV", everything revolves around the »support of health authorities in corona response through analysis, simulation and visualization«. We contribute our mathematical expertise especially to the development of an app.

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

Press Release / 28.9.2020

Using Statistics and AI to Combat Billing Fraud in the Healthcare Sector

Billing fraud committed by contract physicians or outpatient nursing services has been the focus of investigations and media discussion in the healthcare sector for years. The Fraunhofer ITWM supports the efficient clarification with new methods.

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Blog Post / Streuspanne / 19.8.2020

When Does the New Wave Begin?

Since the end of May, there has been speculation about when the second corona wave will arrive in Germany. Now it seems to be here. What makes a second wave? And what do the math and statistics say? Our statistics blog Streuspanne takes time for a small, sober look at the bare numbers. Afterwards, you'll be flashy-thinged. (only available in german)

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Press Release / 27.7.2020

THREAD Doctoral Program Picks up Speed

International networks enrich the scientific exchange. Within the framework of the European Union's THREAD doctoral program, this is currently lived out twice at the Fraunhofer ITWM: In July, the institute welcomes THREAD doctoral student Denise Tumiotto, who will spend four weeks as a guest scientist in the field of "Mathematics for Vehicle Development".

In addition, the first network-wide training took place at the beginning of the month, which the 14 PhD students of the program from eight European countries completed together.

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Press Release / 17.7.2020

Junior Researcher Establishes New Research Group for AI

Stefanie Schwaar won the BMBF's call for funding young female AI researchers. She will establish and head her own research group at our Institute from August 2020. Under the title »EP-KI: Decision Support for Business Management Processes with the Help of New AI Methods« they will work at the interface of business management and artificial intelligence (AI).

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Article / 3.7.2020

How We Welcome and Support Women’s Career

The article on europeanwomeninmaths.org describes the work of our financial mathematicians. We offer our employees helpful support in reconciling family and career, including a day-care centre directly at the institute, a parent-child office in case of care shortages and flexible working hours. In addition to scientific excellence and development opportunities, these aspects also play a role in the proportion of women at the Institute. Our department of Financial Mathematics shines with a female share of 50 percent.

 

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Research News / 1.7.2020

Cost-Effective Ways to Minimize Risks in the Supply Chain

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the economy hard. What lessons can be learned from this experience? And what’s the best way for companies to protect themselves against this kind of crisis in the future? Our new mathematical methods aim to calculate how the risks posed by supply shortages can be reduced significantly at very little extra cost.

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Press Release / 9.3.2020

Deep Fakes zuverlässig enttarnen mit Mathematik [only available in German]

 

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Interview / 9.6.2020

Maintain or Ease Corona Actions?

In an interview, our researchers use first screencasts to present the new tool EpideMSE for decision support in questions concerning the spread of the corona epidemic and the effectiveness of measures.

 

© Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Podcasts #WeKnowHow / 19.5.2020

»Fraunhofer heads against Corona«

In the new podcast series »Fraunhofer heads against Corona« Fraunhofer researchers report on their work and projects against the pandemic. Our institute director Anita Schöbel and our colleague Sascha Feth are involved and are among the interviewees. Of course with corona research and Mathematics.

»In order to better assess the overall situation in the corona crisis, we also need the boldness of applied mathematics.«

 

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Blog Post / Streuspanne / 14.5.2020

Statistical Quality Control Rejects Conspiracy Theories

Recently, we looked at the extent to which incomplete infection figures in the Corona pandemic can be compared with warranty data for vehicle components. Today, we use statistical quality control to reject some conspiracy theories surrounding Covid-19:

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Presse Release / 12.5.2020

Decision Support in the Corona Crisis

In order to support local decision makers (health authorities, hospitals and especially municipalities) in planning their actions, researchers of the Fraunhofer ITWM are working on the epidemiological modeling, simulation and decision support of Covid-19  within the framework of the Fraunhofer Society's Anti-Corona Program (project name EpiDeMSE).

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Press Release / 12.5.2020

Recommended Wearing Time of Protection Masks

How long can you wear a protection mask? When will you have to change a soaked mask? Researchers of the Fraunhofer ITWM tackle these question using mathematical models and computer simulations. It is important to take into account not only the type of mask and the filter material, but also the physical stress level and personal features of the wearer.

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Press Release FhG / 29.4.2020

Statement of the Non-University Research Organisations

Strategies to contain the Covid-19 pandemic based on mathematical analyses of the data situation

Scientists from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Helmholtz Association, Leibniz Association, Max Planck Society have compiled their results, written a joint analysis and presented possible coping strategies for the corona pandemic from the perspective of modelling. Our institute director Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel, as representative of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, co-authored the statement.

 

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Press Release / 30.4.2020

Putting People into Pigeonholes Is Not an Option

– Yes, It Is, for the Prediction of Covid-19 Spread!

Researchers at the Fraunhofer ITWM are developing a prediction model for the spread of Covid-19 which, in contrast to classical models, is better able to detect "sudden changes in infection rates after actions have been taken". In addition, the researchers are simulating several spatially or age-separated groups in a network.

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Blog Entry / Streuspanne / 28.4.2020

Update to the Dark Figure Blog Post

In the last post we presented a simple approach that can be used to statistically estimate the dark figure of corona infections. We originally developed the approach to explain at least a large part of the  very different mortality rates between Italy and Germany (and less to estimate the number of unreported cases as precisely as possible). At the same time, the approach has aroused great interest among many readers and colleagues. We have therefore decided to develop the approach further so that it can estimate the dark figure even better.

After a brief repetition, we present further opportunities for improvement in this article. Of course we keep the expectations high. You will find the new figures at the end of the article.

 

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Press Release / 22.4.2020

Meltblown Productive

Simulations by the Fraunhofer ITWM make processes in the manufacture of nonwovens more efficient. For example, Fraunhofer's anti-corona program is optimizing the production of infection protection.

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Interview / 17.4.2020

Interview with Anita Schöbel

Institute director Anita Schöbel talks in an interview about the developments regarding the corona crisis at the ITWM, new projects and the current work at the institute:

 

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Press Release / 14.4.2020

Using Mathematics to Evaluate and Optimize Catalytic Filters

Catalysts are commonly used to reduce pollutants released in car exhaust. In order to manufacture catalytic filters with even higher efficiency, industry is increasingly relying on innovative mathematical models and machine learning. The Fraunhofer ITWM and its High Performance Center for Simulation and Software Based Innovation are involved in the BMBF joint project.

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Blog Entry / Streuspanne / 3.4.2020

How Can Statistics Determine the Dark Figure of Corona Infections?

On 2 April Germany reported 73,000 corona infections and 867 deaths. Italy counts 100,000 infections and 12,000 deaths. Based on these figures, the case mortality rate in Italy is more than 10 times higher than in Germany. This difference is an expression of unknown dark figures.

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Press Release / 2.4.2020

EU Doctoral Programme With Special Challenges

On April 1, 2020, Davide Manfredo should have started his doctoral studies at the Fraunhofer ITWM in Kaiserslautern. Instead of Kaiserslautern, Davide is now working from his parents’ home in Turin. Corona thwarted his travel plans, but not those of his career at the ITWM:

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Press Release / 16.3.2020

Terahertz Technology Supports Cultural Heritage

L'Ultima Cena Observed by High Frequency Electromagnetic Waves: The Fraunhofer ITWM now supports a new approach to restauration.

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Research News / 2.1.2020

Communal Energy Hub

Our innovative energy management system Amperix connects households or entire neighborhoods with locally produced renewable energy.

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News / 9.1.2020

Best Student Paper Award IVCNZ

Ricard Durall Lopez wins the IVCNZ Best Student Paper Award for his presentation »Semi Few-Shot Attribute Translation«.