Fraunhofer Group for Materials and Components - Materials

A Study on the Future of the Chemical Cluster in Central Germany

An engine powered exclusively by ammonia, without blending in fossil energy sources: IMM will present the core technology behind this breakthrough at Hannover Messe 2026.

On 24 April 2026, the play “K:lebt!” will celebrate its premiere in the Kleines Haus of the Braunschweig State Theatre. The Fraunhofer WKI’s expertise in adhesives served, among other things, as the inspiration for the play, in which adhesive is used as a metaphor for the cohesion of society.

At Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main, starting April 21, 2026, Fraunhofer ITWM will demonstrate how its software solutions support the textile industry with powerful simulation capabilities. The goal is to shorten development times, optimize material usage, and reliably predict the behavior of textile structures virtually. 

Overfertilization in agriculture weakens crops, endangers drinking water quality and harms the soil. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB are now developing an alternative fertilizer that is fully biodegradable and only supplies plants with the nutrients they actually need, thus preventing overfertilization.

Photovoltaic modules (PV modules) are the largest urban source of secondary silicon and secondary silver in Germany. Each tonne of a PV module contains approximately 30 kg of silicon and up to 0.5 kg of silver.

In vertical hydroponic systems, plants literally grow upward—without soil, with controlled fertilizer input, and in a water-saving setup.

Together with an international consortium, Fraunhofer IMM developed a multi-ion monitoring system designed to automatically control nutrient input in such systems, making the use of water, fertilizer, and other operating resources more efficient.