Press

The European Commission is providing 47.5 million euros in funding to support the Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA) in the next phase of developing and deploying quantum internet technologies. The Fraunhofer ILT is contributing to this effort by developing low-noise quantum frequency converters and, through ALICE, providing a hardware-based, open-access platform in Aachen for testing and further developing quantum networking technologies based on an NV network node.

What if additive manufacturing could tailor make complex components for the hydrogen sector? How can powder flow be switched on and off as quickly as a light? How can a tool determine for itself how much load it is currently carrying? At Formnext in Frankfurt am Main from November 17 to 20, 2026, Fraunhofer ILT will be presenting three smart answers at the joint Fraunhofer booth D31 in Hall 11.0, solutions that make additive manufacturing considerably more cost-effective.

International competition in the battery industry is intensifying. At the same time, demand for batteries is growing, both for electric mobility and stationary applications. As the Laser Symposium Electromobility LSE’26 in Aachen in September 2026 made clear, Europe can draw on its own strengths: flexible manufacturing expertise, high process quality, and the ability to adapt production to different cell chemistries, designs and volumes. With precise self-learning laser processes, Europe’s battery industry can regain momentum beyond competition based purely on price.

From electrolyzers to storage to fuel cells: At the Hydrogen Technology World Expo 2026 in Hamburg, Germany, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT will demonstrate how laser technology makes key processes in the hydrogen economy more efficient and industrially scalable. In addition, Fraunhofer ILT will present solutions for various electrolysis technologies, the manufacturing of fuel cell components, hydrogen storage, and Power-to-X applications.