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The Automotive Initiative 2025 (AI25) is a joint project launched by the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO together with AUDI AG and the Technical University of Munich. Its purpose is to establish a world-leading network of excellence for the digital transformation of automotive manufacturing. This network is to be located in the Heilbronn region in Germany, with the required IT solutions provided by technology partners AWS, SAP, Capgemini and XL2.

As part of the corporate communications mix, business events are set to play an increasingly important role. At a recent online event, Future Meeting Space – an innovation network set up by Fraunhofer IAO and GCB German Convention Bureau – has now presented the results of 18 months of intensive research in this field. The study, which is free of charge, looks at the changed circumstances for the event industry and stakeholders’ shifting expectations.

It is almost two years since the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO established its Research and Innovation Center for Cognitive Service Systems (KODIS) at the Bildungscampus in Heilbronn. This coming October, KODIS will host the international RESER conference for the very first time. The focus of the event will be the digital transformation of the service industry, which is being driven by the increasing role of data and AI.

Fraunhofer IAO, the University Hospital Dresden and seracom GmbH joined forces to investigate the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic using AI algorithms in a project called WIBCE. The results of the associated Germany-wide online survey indicate that younger people experience more psychological distress than older people, despite the fact that their objective health risk is relatively low.

How can nocturnal activity generate greater wealth for society and help boost the local economy? Fraunhofer IAO has taken a closer look at cities with a thriving nightlife, both in Germany and abroad, and identified key strategies for building a successful and resilient nighttime economy. The position paper “The outlook on nighttime economy” shows best practices and highlights the relevance of this activity for cities of the future.

Manufacturing industry faces major changes. The biggest of these will be the introduction of autonomous systems to assist in the workplace. This will involve the use of data-based analytics and smart solution templates to support employees engaged in value-creating activities. At the International Open Lab Day, experts from Fraunhofer IAO and Fraunhofer IPA will be presenting to an international audience the benefits that artificial intelligence (AI) can bring in the manufacturing environment.

As a part of Cyber Valley, the AI Innovation Center “Learning Systems” operated by Fraunhofer IAO and Fraunhofer IPA supports companies in their efforts to exploit the economic potential of AI. Across a total of 44 projects, feasibility studies and solutions for practical applications have already been developed. With total funding of EUR 23 million, the “Cognitive Robotics” center at Fraunhofer IPA will expand the organisation’s service portfolio in this area from 01 March 2021.

Hyperloops and micro-scooters look to be among the most promising solutions for tomorrow’s sustainable transportation. But how do users feel about these modes of transport? The Fraunhofer IAO looked into the matter. Seeking to determine the chances of trending mobility tech attaining mainstream success, it conducted an international survey and wrote about user acceptance in “Mobility Trends”, a study carried out with the FutureCar innovation network.

Demand for affordable yet high-quality solutions is soaring. Fraunhofer IAO joined forces with manufacturing companies and other partners to determine what innovations would benefit society as a whole and bring the general public on board to develop frugal solutions. This initiative, an EU project that goes by the name of FRANCIS, aims to accomplish this end by posing two open innovation challenges.

How many cars park on a street at any one time? Are there enough spaces for all the cars that habitually park there? Or might it be an idea to create a residential parking zone? To answer these questions, municipalities have to invest a lot of time and effort in counting vehicles and investigating the situation on the ground. In a joint project with the City of Karlsruhe, Fraunhofer IAO is now exploring the use of AI to measure and manage the demand for parking space.