Press

Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen, together with tinkerbrain – Institut für Bildungsinitiativen GmbH, has developed multimedia and multidisciplinary learning and teaching materials as part of Science Year 2025, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR). It teaches schoolchildren about the scientific and technical background of fusion as an energy source of the future and its potential to generate a secure climate-neutral energy supply. Three schools in Aachen have already worked with this subject in regular lessons and in week-long project seminars. The project partners are now making it available free of charge to interested schools and extracurricular learning centers as the web-based "fusionsLAB.de."

Fraunhofer ILT and Cailabs are entering a development partnership to advance wire-based laser material deposition for demanding industrial applications. Cailabs contributes a new, particularly compact process head based on its MPLC beam-shaping technology. The head weighs less than five kilograms and allows the use of laser powers above twelve kilowatts. This combination of compact size, high available laser power and precise beam shaping has not been available in this form before. Based on this, Fraunhofer ILT develops and qualifies suitable process parameters for different component geometries and use cases.

Solid-state batteries promise greater safety, higher energy density, and new degrees of freedom in cell design. Yet the path from laboratory cell to industrial production is challenging. Laser processes can overcome key hurdles and enable a breakthrough.

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.