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

2023

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 2023. Each department and each division 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

Happy Holidays!

The sustainable use of energy was our theme for 2023. But don't worry, we're still heating our building. Our core competence »simulation« with a pinch of Artificial Intelligence provides the winter mood in the picture. Our employees put a lot of energy into numerous innovative projects in 2023. We would like to thank everyone we have worked with over the past year for the excellent collaboration and wish them every success, health and happiness in the new year! The picture shows the illuminated dome of our RODOS driving simulator in the atrium – snowed in with the help of AI.

 

© freepik

AI Blog / 21.12.2023

Underrepresentation – A Challenge in Recognizing Anomalies or the Christmas Tree Case

AI systems suggest different products to us. This may be annoying, but it becomes much more important when systems are supposed to detect cases of fraud. What do anomalies have to do with Christmas tree sales? Our AI blog team reports:

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Podcast Streuspanne / 20.12.2023

The Sleeping Beauty Paradox and Statistics

As the year draws to a close, our Streuspanne team is getting into a fairytale mood. What exactly is the sleeping beauty paradox and what is actually paradoxical about it? These and other questions are answered in the current episode with the help of statistics.

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© iStockphoto

Short News / 07.12.2023

»Using Digitalization and Simulation to Transform the Chemical Industry«

The article, which appeared in the magazine »CITplus«, reports on the international workshop »Mathematical Methods in Process Industry«, which took place at our institute and was organized by the High Performance Center.

 

© freepik / Fraunhofer ITWM

Podcast »Streuspanne Lexicon« / 12.12.2023

»Monty Hall Problem«

In our new »Streuspanne Lexicon« rubric the Streuspanne team starts with the »Monty Hall Problem« also known as the »Ziegenproblem« (Goat Problem) in German. In this new episode the team briefly explains the problem in under five minutes.  

What considerations play a role in probability theory and what does game theory have to say in this context?

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© freepik

Press Release / 04.12.2023

Fraunhofer ITWM Conducts Study on the Costs of Pension Insurance Products

The study analyzes how high the effective costs of pension products are under realistic cost parameters. It shows that the costs resulting from the specifications of the Federal Ministry of Finance significantly exceed the realistic costs.

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© iStockphoto

Blog Entry / 28.11.2023

Dr. Hannes Grimm-Strele at the »Lightweight TechTalk« by AZL

At the lecture series of the Aachen Centre for Integrative Lightweight Construction (AZL) on the topic of »High-Performance SMC«, Dr. Hannes Grimm-Strele presented together with our cooperation partners in the »ALMA« project their work on process simulation and mechanical characterisation of SMC composites.

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM / freepik

Press Release / 27.11.2023

Developing Optimal Foam Components With Simulation

The Foam Expo trade fair, which takes place in Stuttgart from December 5 to 7, promises new connections and new insights. Our researchers are taking the latter literally: the FOAM software enables insights into the microstructure of a wide variety of foams. The tool will be presented in Hall 1 at Booth 250.

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© Laurin Schmid / Deutsche Glasfaser

Short News / 16.11.2023

Project »DECIDE« Wins Nationwide Competition

In the competition »Digital Places in the Land of Ideas 2023«, our project »DECIDE: Digital Consulting, Data Integration, Decision Making and Empowerment« wins in the category »Health«.

 

© freepik / Fraunhofer ITWM

Podcast Streuspanne / 15.11.2023

How Long Do We Live? And What Influences Life Expectancy?

This week, the Streuspanne team takes a closer look at the topic of »Life Expectancy«. What is a life table? What does excess mortality mean? How is it all calculated and where does the data come from? These and other questions are answered in this episode with the help of statistics.

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© Fraunhofer ITWM / SC Conference

Press Release / 03.11.2023

The Future of High Performance Computing

From 12 to 17 November 2023 in Denver, Colorado, everything will revolve around the topics of »High Performance Computing«, »Networking«, »Storage« and »Analysis«. We will be presenting the our exascale-capable tools, the well-known parallel file system »BeeGFS«, the Fraunhofer STX processor technology and much more at booth 1563!

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Kaiserslautern / Press Release / 02.11.2023

AI Controls Plants More Efficiently

On November 7 and 8, 2023, everything in the Stuttgart trade fair halls will revolve around industrial maintenance and smart maintenance of production facilities.

The Fraunhofer ITWM will present its software solutions in the Innovation Area in Hall 2A. The focus is on the integration of Artificial Intelligence methods in Edge Gateways.

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Shortnews / October 2023

Article about »EMMA4Drive«

In our »EMMA4Drive« project, we are developing a dynamic human model for use in autonomous vehicles.

The journal »forschung« the magazine of the German Research Society, has now published a technical article about this.

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

Kaiserslautern / Project Week / 23.10. – 27.10.2023

MINT-EC Math-Talent-School 2023

What do mathematicians actually do? Interested students from all over Germany can find out at the Institute.

At the Math-Talent-School, 36 students – more than ever before – got the chance to work on exciting projects with our experts and get a taste of the professional field of mathematicians.

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© freepik / Fraunhofer ITWM

Podcast Streuspanne / 12.10.2023

The World Will End Soon! At Least Statistically

This week, Dr Jochen Fiedler and Dr Sascha Feth, together with host Esther Packullat, take a closer look at the subject »end of the world«. Using the doomsday argument, which is based on probability theory and statistics, they try to investigate the end of the world. To hear their conclusion, listen to our new german podcast episode.

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© RheinEnergie AG / Joachim Rieger

Press Release / 05.10.2023

Digital Twin Optimizes Processes in the Combined Heat and Power Plant

Energy can be saved by optimizing the control of combined heat and power plants. In a project with RheinEnergie AG, our researchers are exploring this potential with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Interview / 28.09.2023

Tania Jacob Receives Sparkassen Stiftung Prize

With an award for her master thesis on anomaly detection in time series, the foundation recognized Tania Jacob for her outstanding performance.

In the interview, she explains how her results could also be used in power plants and on the stock market and tells more about her work at Fraunhofer ITWM.

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Shortnews / 27.9.2023

Dr. Sebastian Blauth wins ICT Dissertations Award

For his work entitled "Adjoint-Based Shape Optimization and Optimal Control with Applications to Microchannel Systems", Dr. Sebastian Blauth, from the department "Transport Processes" received this year's first place ICT Dissertation Award of the Fraunhofer Group IUK Technology.

 

© Fraunhofer IGB

Shortnews / 27.09.2023

Corona situation in Central Germany

With the beginning of autumn, COVID 19 infections are on the rise. The »Tagesschau« article takes a closer look at the current situation. In addition, our research is highlighted and our employee »Jan Mohring« is quoted.

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

Interview / 27.09.2023

KLAIM 2023: »The Best of Both Worlds«

Our Kaiserslautern Applied and Industrial Mathematics Days provide a platform for mathematicians to exchange ideas and present results. The focus of the KLAIM meeting 2023 is on the synthesis of models and data, the current scientific focus of Prof. Dr. Gitta Kutyniok. She gave the opening lecture. In the interview she talks about her research:

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© IBM Research / freepik

Press Release / 19.9.2023

Fraunhofer ITWM becomes Part of the DLR QCI Project QUANT²AI

Quantum computing offers solutions for complex problems in chemical reactions, machine learning or cryptography. To bring such faster into application, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is developing enabling technologies and applications together with various partners.

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© Gebrüder Pfeiffer SE

Article on the Project »EMILIE« / 31.05.2023

Article on the Project »EMILIE«

An article about our project »EMILIE« was published in the journal Computer-Automation. In this project, we are working together with our partners on edge gateways for decentralised data acquisition and processing.

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

Interview / 14.9.2023

Solvency Capital Calculation with Artificial Intelligence: Less Data, More Valid Forecasts

In this interview, Prof. Dr. Ralf Korn talks about solvency capital calculation with Artificial Intelligence. The mathematics behind it is highly complex. As he nicely puts it: »Because there is not only the insurance, but also the world!«

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Scholarship Program / 08.09.2023

Felix Klein Fall School 2023

Once a year, the Felix Klein Academy organizes an Autumn School for its scholarship holders. On our website we have collected impressions, interviews and portraits of the Fall School 2023.

 

© Gesellschaft für Operations Research e.V.

Press Release / 31.8.2023

Anita Schöbel Awarded GOR 2023 Science Prize

At this year's annual meeting of the Society for Operations Research (GOR) on 30 August 2023, our Institute Director Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel received the GOR Science Award. The award is the most important prize awarded by the society and recognises exceptional achievements in the development of the focus »Operations Research«.

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© iStockphoto

Podcast »Nachgeforscht« / 16.08.2023

The Tade with Electricity

Why is the price of electricity subject to such fluctuations? Can companies save by buying electricity when there is a high supply due to renewable energies? What are the options for storing large amounts of electricity? How can flexibility in purchasing electricity and energy help companies save money? In the latest episode of the German Fraunhofer InnoVisions podcast »Nachgeforscht«, our expert Ria Grindel answers about all these questions.

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

Interview / 11.08.2023

»Fun With Math Is Important!«

Xenia Riexinger works in the communication team of Fraunhofer ITWM and is still a student herself. For the school newspaper of the Burggymnasium Kaiserslautern, she interviewed our institute director Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel to give students a real insight behind the scenes of mathematics. The German interview was about fun, teamwork, applied mathematics and career opportunities:

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM / MaRDI

Interview / 10.08.2023

Interview with Dr. Christine Biedinger

In the Mathematical Research Data Initiative (MaRDI), we are committed to creating a permanent, freely available and accessible store of knowledge. Our colleague Dr. Christine Biedinger from the division "Mathematics for Vehicle Engineering" is one of the participants. She deals with complex application problems and with a lot of data from the automotive industry. What does that mean in practice and for MaRDI? Answers in the Interview:

 

© freepik / Fraunhofer ITWM

Research News / 01.08.2023

Safe Airbag Deployment

In car accidents, the airbag can often save lives. While driving, it lies well hidden under a high-quality plastic surface that covers large parts of the cockpit: the slush skin.

We have developed a hand-guided terahertz measurement system that enables individual and non-destructive quality control of slush skins.

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Math Talent School / 14.07.2023

Impressions Math Talent School 2023

It was time again for the Math Talent School 2023! What does the professional world of a mathematician look like and what is applied mathematics? That's what students learned at our institute. Here we have collected impressions and statements of the participants of the Math Talent School 2023:

 

© IBM Research

Press Release / 12.07.2023

Fraunhofer ITWM becomes Partner in the QCI Project Quant²AI

The German Aerospace Institute (DLR) is conducting research on quantum computers in its Quantum Computing Initiative (QCI). We are now on board and contributing our expertise to the »Quant²AI« project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection to bring quantum technology into aerospace practice.

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© iStockphoto / Fraunhofer ITWM

Press Release / 10.07.2023

Statistically Tracking Down the Speed Limit

In the new episode of the Streuspanne podcast, everything revolves around the topic of »speed limits«. Could climate targets be achieved with changes in mobility? How can we empirically determine the CO2 savings from a speed limit, for example? What arguments are there for and against a speed limit? All this in our new podcast episode:

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Press Release / 30.06.2023

Solving Fraud in the Care Sector More Quickly

In the project »PflegeForensik«, our researchers at the Fraunhofer ITWM in Kaiserslautern, together with the Dresden Public Prosecutor's Office and the Economic Crimes Unit of the Leipzig Police Department, are using AI to take targeted action against billing fraud in the care sector. The work was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Short News / 29.06.2023

»You Shaped My Life!«

Together with the University Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), the »Financial Mathematics« department is celebrating Ralf Korn's 60th birthday with a special workshop. Many mathematicians whose professional careers are closely linked to him will be attending.

Korn founded the »Financial Mathematics« department and continues to be involved in research as an advisor to the Fraunhofer ITWM.

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Press Release / 28.06.2023

International and Interdisciplinary: ISOLDE 2023

Together with the University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), we are organizing the ISOLDE 2023 conference, which brings together the international operations research community. Our institute director Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel is the main organizer of the conference. We asked her in an interview about the characteristics of this interdisciplinary conference.

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© freepik

Press Release / 19.06.2023

Performance Center achieves again Top Position

In a ranking of all 21 performance centers of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the High Performance Center Simulation and Software Based Innovation in Kaiserslautern once again achieves the highest score and thus increases its result once again compared to the previous year!

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

Press Release / 2.6.2023

Fraunhofer ITWM, Siriotek and Bematic Combine Their Nonwovens Expertise

Today, nonwoven fabrics play a central role in a number of industries. As demand for these versatile materials continues to grow, Bettarini & Serafini S.r.l, Siriotek GmbH and the Fraunhofer ITWM are now joining forces to enhance and develop air-lay technology for production of nonwovens.

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Short News / 01.06.2023

Two new Position for Dr. Valeria Bartsch

As en expert in the field of quantum computing, Bartsch, division head of »High Performance Computing«, serves on the advisory board of the Gauss Centre for Supercomputing and in an advisory capacity to the steering group of the Finnish Infrastructure for Quantum Computing (FiQCI).

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

Press Release 31.05.2023 / 31.5.2023

Two Awards for Financial Mathematics at Kaiserslautern

The DGVFM and the DAV have awarded the prestigious GAUSS Prize and three GAUSS Young Investigator Awards for outstanding scientific work: Dr. Simon Schnürch is awarded for his dissertation. Likewise, Prof. Dr. Ralf Korn was re-elected as DGVFM Chairman.

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© iStockphoto

Press Release / 17.05.2023

Fraunhofer ITWM at the E-world energy & water 2023

Hardly any other topic is currently being discussed more: the energy transition. Our researchers have been developing innovative methods and models for the energy industry for years. From May 23 to 25, 2023, we will present various energy projects at the leading trade fair E-world in Essen.

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Portrait / 12.5.2023

Graduating Top of the Class – Internship at the Fraunhofer ITWM

Valentino Bizuga is halfway through his four-week internship at our institute, during which he can experience the professional world of mathematicians.

We took advantage of the occasion and our student assistant Antoinette Duus from the »Communication« team interviewed and portrayed the 19-year-old.

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Press Release / 8.5.2023

Apply by May 31 for Mathematics Scholarship

A monthly support of 600 euros and a study-accompanying program - that is what the Felix Klein Center offers mathematics students at the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University of Kaiserslautern. Bachelor's and Master's students as well as prospective first-year students can still apply until May 31 for the winter semester 2023/24.

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© iStockphoto / Fraunhofer ITWM

Podcast Streuspanne / 20.4.2023

How Are TV Ratings Determined?

Whether it's Germany's Next Topmodel or TV events like the World Cup – time and again we hear that people decide to boycott programmes »out of principle« so as not to increase their ratings. But does that make a difference? The new podcast episode is about ratings. What is behind them and how are they collected?

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Shortnews / 14.4.2023

New ToolIP-Version!

Our software »ToolIP – Tool for Image Processing« supports interactive development in image processing. In the new version we have especially optimized the user interface and performance. Please feel free to request a free demo from us!

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

Press Release / 31.3.2023

Math Camp: Final Selection for Mathematics Olympiad

For 13 students from Rhineland-Palatinate, the motto in June 2023 is: We are going to Berlin! They are the best of the Math Camp at the Department of Mathematics at RPTU and will represent Rhineland-Palatinate in the final round of the Mathematical Olympiad. The winners were announced today at our institute.

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© iStockphoto

Shortnews / 28.3.2023

»Corona in RLP – A Wastewater Study«

With wastewater analyses on Corona and the scientific accompanying study »Observation and Early Warning System for SARS-CoV-2 Infections« (»SentiSurv«), scientists of our division »Optimization« and the department »Transport Processes« investigate the transition of the pandemic to endemicity in Rhineland-Palatinate (RLP).

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

Press Release / 21.3.2023

Interview with the EURO President

Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel has been President of the »Association of European Operational Research Societies« (EURO) since January 1, 2023. After her election in summer 2021, she was able to prepare for her term as »President Elect« for one year. We interviewed her about her tenure so far.

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© View / Rainer Voss

Press Release / 17.3.2023

Minister Clemens Hoch hands over funding decisions for »QUIP« and »MaTBiZ«

Science Minister Clemens Hoch brought two funding decisions to Kaiserslautern to support Quantum Initiative Rhineland-Palatinate (QUIP) and the project MaTBiZ.

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© iStockphoto / ECMI

Short News / 16.3.2023

Kaiserslautern Is ECMI Node For Two Weeks

The European Consortium for Mathematics in Industry (ECMI) has its own blog about news from the European maths community. In terms of content, every fortnight a different place is the so-called »Featured ECMI Node« and is responsible for the news. As of today (16 March 2023), we from Kaiserslautern are posting together with the Department of Mathematics of the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU).

 

© iStockphoto / Fraunhofer ITWM

Podcast Streuspanne / 15.3.2023

Micromort and Everyday Risks

In our new podcast episode, the two blogging statisticians Dr. Sascha Feth and Dr. Jochen Fiedler talk about the so-called »micromort«. This is a unit of measurement that can be used to measure lethal risks in everyday life. Risk assessment and evaluation is also a topic of the podcast conversation. [only available in German]

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© alpha Uni

Video Report / 8.3.2023

Getting a Job as a Mathematician

Between strong coffee, dedicated project work, exciting online meetings and new algorithms – ARD alpha Uni accompanied our colleague Dr. Tobias Seidel in his everyday life at Fraunhofer ITWM. This short report makes one thing clear: even at the beginning of their careers, mathematicians change the world a little bit for the better – in line with our motto »Mathematics for a Good Future«. [Only available in German]

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Video Series / 3.3.2023

Doing a PhD in Kaiserslautern

»The Kaiserslautern location is particularly interesting for mathematicians.« In addition to our institute, this is also due to the excellent teaching in the »Mathematics« at the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU).

Firoozeh Aga and Maxime Krier give insights into their »Lautrer Maths Story« in the latest video in our series.

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© iStockphoto

Research News / Press Release / 1.3.2023

Seismic Imaging Provides an Insight Into the Earths Subsurface

The seismic reflection method involves sending acoustic waves thousands of meters under the Earth’s surface. The reflected signals provide scientists with information about the characteristics of the subsurface. Researchers at the Fraunhofer ITWM are able to process seismic data in greater detail.

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© Fraunhofer IMM

Press Release / 27.2.2023

Faster to Reliable PCR Test Result

It sounds fun, but it is serious science, and that is why it is being funded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health: FAST-MoPPS is the name of a new project for the development of mobile PCR tests. Ministerial Director Daniel Stich handed over the funding notification to the two Fraunhofer Institutes involved, IMM and ITWM, in Mainz.

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

International Day of Women Scientists / 11.2.2023

We Are Proud to Present: Dr. Petra Gospodnetić!

Today is International Women and Girls in Science Day! We are taking this opportunity to introduce you to our colleague, Dr. Petra Gospodnetić. After her studies, she found her way to the Fraunhofer ITWM during her studies via an internship and has been working in our department »Image Processing« ever since. To the portrait:

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© Gebrüder Pfeiffer SE

Press Release / 7.2.2023

EMILIE Makes Cement Mills More Energy Efficient

The future of industrial data processing is being taken over by so-called edge devices, which process data already in the control cabinet. In the project EMILIE, we are working with partners to improve these technologies. Among other things, the researchers are focusing on the energy efficiency of large mills.

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© Gerhard Kopatz / Science Notes

Interview / 1.2.2023

Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel appointed to steering committee

Our Institute Director Prof. Dr. Anita Schöbel is enthusiastic about mathematics – she now wants to bring this enthusiasm to the steering committee of the Max Planck Schools. These are a joint initiative of German universities and non-university research institutions. 

 

© MaRDI / Fraunhofer ITWM

Interview / 31.1.2023

»The Data Culture Should Be FAIR«

Through the Mathematical Research Data Initiative (MaRDI), we are participating in making research data accessible and freely available for the entire German science system, following the FAIR-Principle (Findable, Accessable, Interoperable, Reusable). As co-spokesperson of the mathematics consortium, our institute director, Dr. Anita Schöbel, commented on this project in an interview:

 

© Fraunhofer ITWM

Video Series / 5.1.2023

»Tell us Your Lautrer Math Story, Milena!«

»I think the bridge between science and business is totally interesting«, says Milena Röhrs in her Lautrer math story. She is currently a math student at the RPTU. The Fraunhofer ITWM was an important location factor for her to start her studies in Kaiserslautern. In addition, the performance of the university's department in the relevant rankings.

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© Fraunhofer ITWM

Research News / 2.1.2023

Shape Change at the Push of a Button

Programmable materials are true shape-shifters. At the push of a button, they change their properties in a controlled and reversible manner and adapt independently to new conditions. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Programmable Materials CPM are developing such programmable materials and bringing them to market together with industrial partners.

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© SCOR

Short News / 2.1.2023

Second Place at the »SCOR Prize«

Dr. Simon Schnürch (left in the picture), until recently working in our department »Financial Mathematics«, ended 2022 with a success: His dissertation »Mortality Modeling Machine Learning and Mortality Shocks« won second place at the »SCOR Prize« in Germany! The Prize is endowed with 4,000 euros.

SCOR is one of the top 5 global reinsurers based in Paris and awards prizes in several countries. 

News of the Departments and Division

Current projects, articles and news of the individual departments and divisions at Fraunhofer ITWM

Optimization
Flow and Materialsimulation
Transport Processes
System Analysis, Prognosis and Control
Mathematics for Vehicle Engineering
Image Processing
High Performance Computing
Financial Mathematics
Materials Characterization and Testing