Press / Publications

Innovative mRNA-based therapeutics and vaccines offer hope in the fight against cancer, genetic disorders and infections. However, their development and production are complex, slow and difficult to scale. Seven Fraunhofer institutes are working to change this situation. In the RNAuto project, they have now developed an automated, digitally controlled production system that is fast, flexible and cost-effective.

While germinating, seeds must be supplied with sufficient water and protected from herbicides, as undisturbed crop development is key to ensuring stable and high yields. As part of the SeedPlus project, researchers from three Fraunhofer institutes have developed a biodegradable seed coating that features integrated water storage capacity and protection from herbicides to facilitate high germination rates.

When water samples are tested for microbiological contamination today, the process still often begins and ends in a laboratory: collect the sample, transport it, analyze it, and wait for the result. Fraunhofer IMM’s InBaDtec platform is designed to fundamentally change exactly this workflow. The system brings the analysis to where it is needed – directly to the point of use.

An engine powered exclusively by ammonia, without blending in fossil energy sources: Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems IMM will present the core technology behind this breakthrough at Hannover Messe 2026. The successful implementation is the result of several years of development work for First Ammonia Motors and marks a milestone for more climate-friendly propulsion technologies. Excerpts from the test-drive video will be shown at the exhibition stand.

In vertical hydroponic systems, plants literally grow upward—without soil, with controlled fertilizer input, and in a water-saving setup. As cities continue to expand, agricultural land becomes scarcer, and climate change progresses, new forms of cultivation are coming into focus. One of these is vertical hydroponic farming: plants are grown on multiple stacked levels, not in soil but in a circulating nutrient solution. This saves space, enables short transport routes, and allows crops to be supplied very precisely. Together with an international consortium, the Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems IMM developed a multi-ion monitoring system designed to automatically control nutrient input in such closed-loop systems, making the use of water, fertilizer, and other operating resources more efficient.

Klaus Kögler’s work in the field of bioprinting contributes to the development of high-precision single-cell bioprinting towards an industrially viable solution.

State Secretary Matthias Hauer presents funding approval for the InnoWaerm project at Fraunhofer ILT. The project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) with approximately 1.5 million euros, develops high-temperature-resistant lightweight reactors made from titanium aluminide that can be manufactured using additive manufacturing. They are intended to generate hydrogen directly on board aircraft, agricultural machinery, or heavy-duty vehicles.

Jan Zimmer´s work in the field of nanodmedicine, contributes to the development of innovative biomaterials for targeted drug delivery and offers promising approaches for future therapeutic applications in gene therapy and cancer research.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems IMM will par-ticipate as an exhibitor at the international trade fair Hyvolution 2026. The three-day leading event for the hydrogen sector will take place from January 27 to 29, 2026, at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. The Fraunhofer IMM team will welcome trade visitors at booth N47 in Hall 1, where it will showcase its latest solutions for hydrogen production and power-to-gas processes.

After two years of research and development work, the German-Chilean Power-to-MEDME-R&D project has been successfully completed. The Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE and its project partners have developed key technological, economic, and systemic foundations for the sustainable production of green hydrogen and its derivatives methanol and dimethyl ether (DME) in Chile. The results show that Chile offers excellent conditions for cost-efficient, cli-mate-neutral production with a high potential for local use and export in an interna-tional comparison.

The team of authors received the GMM Literature Prize 2025 for their publication on a novel system for real-time analysis of nanoparticles during their synthesis. The prize was presented to the lead author, Ebrahim Taiedinejad, at the MikroSystemTechnik Kongress 2025.

With flowDLS, Fraunhofer IMM has developed a system based on dynamic light scattering (DLS) that measures particle sizes in real time. What makes flowDLS special? Read more in our Newsletter "FlowDLS: Real-time precision in nanoparticle analysis".

People being monitored for chronic kidney disease or heart failure often have high levels of potassium in their blood (hyperkalemia) due to impaired renal potassium excretion caused by kidney damage or by medications. But such medications interfere with urinary potassium excretion. This electrolyte imbalance can be life-threatening and thus must be closely monitored. In collaboration with French start-up Ki'tech, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems IMM want to revolutionize patient monitoring with a minimally invasive solution that measures biomarkers, including potassium, in the subcutaneous interstitial fluid.

We generally feel safe at home. It is where we have designed our sur- roundings according to our preferences and chosen products to the best of our knowledge. But can we truly be sure that these products pose no threat to our health? In the EU-funded project MetrIAQ, Fraunhofer IMM collaborated with several national and international partners to develop novel microcapsules as reference materials for quality assurance in emission testing for the health evaluation of building products.

In his work in the field of reactive intermediates, Lars Gössl focuses on quantity-optimized and demand-driven production of various organozinc halides as well as their conversion into synthetically relevant compounds.

Ammonia has been traditionally known for fertilizer production. In the future, it could also play a key role in the Energy Transition as an efficient source of hydrogen and a climate-friendly substitute for fossil fuels since it can be produced from nitrogen and hydrogen with zero carbon emissions. Furthermore, ammonia offers a wealth of advantages in terms of transportation and storage. The Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems IMM is working on a space-saving, efficient and, above all, decentralized ammonia cracking technology in numerous research projects.

Fraunhofer IMM, part of the globally renowned Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CATUG, Basel, Switzerland. This strategic collaboration will drive joint research and development initiatives, particularly in the fields of nucleic acids and nanoparticle technology. CATUG is a pioneering contract service provider in RNA therapeutics and LNP formulations. The collaboration between Fraunhofer IMM and CATUG will leverage their combined expertise in sustainable technologies, scalable nanoformulation systems, and advanced nanoanalytics. Together, the partnership aims to accelerate innovation in therapeutic solutions, particularly in RNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations.

Dr. Johannes Rocker received the a Poster Award at IMRET 2024 in Graz, Austria. His poster, entitled “Electron-mediated Biocatalyzed Synthesis of Chiral Fine Chemicals in Microstructured Flow Reactors,” presents innovative approaches to the electrification of organic syntheses by combining biocatalysis and electrochemistry.

Bright prospects for personalized medicine: Experts from the Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems IMM harness their know-how in microfluidics and single-cell technologies to print organ structures. They will be presenting their developments at the joint Fraunhofer booth (Hall 3, Booth E74) at the MEDICA 2024 trade show from November 11 to 14.

Parker Hannifin and the Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems (IMM) today announced the renewal of their partnership to further develop air adsorption technology for fuel cell humidification applications. Gregory Brickett, General Manager, Engine Mobile Filtration Europe (EMFE) Division, said: “This collaboration builds on the successful partnership which started in October 2022, and which led to significant advancements in fuel cell technology, including the development of a specialized test rig.”