For the LUITA research project, the Institute of Human Factors and Technology Management (IAT) at the University of Stuttgart, in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering (IAO) and the districts of Reutlingen and Zollernalbkreis, is investigating how remotely piloted drones can provide faster situational updates – for example, in the case of forest fires – and support control centers and incident commanders even while they are en route to the scene of the incident. The goal is to develop a transferable blueprint for the safe and effective use of drones in emergency response.

INQUBATOR, Fraunhofer's quantum computing consulting and testing center, offers businesses an practical and cost-effective access to quantum computing. Starting immediately, companies of all sizes can apply with their use cases to develop customized solutions in collaboration with Fraunhofer partners and test the potential of quantum algorithms. The application deadline is August 1, 2026.

On June 18 and 19, 2026, the members of the Competence Center Quantum Computing Baden-Württemberg (KQCBW) were jointly invited by Fraunhofer IAO and Fraunhofer IAF to the fourth Developer Conference in Freiburg. The two-day event brought together the project and associated partners of the competence center from research and industry to discuss the latest advances and challenges in quantum computing.

In July 2026, Fraunhofer IAO will be launching the Applied Robotics Alliance (ARA). This new innovation network connects companies from various industries to explore new robotic applications and establish long-term R&D partnerships with the goal of strengthening robotics in Germany and beyond.

The CirkArena project is officially underway. Fraunhofer IAO, alongside Fraunhofer IPA and IBP, is establishing a leading European center for the circular economy in the Třinec-Ostrava region. In collaboration with the Czech research institute Materials and Metallurgical Research (MMV), the project aims to develop innovative solutions for the sustainable use of industrial byproducts and the creation of circular value chains, with the goal of conserving resources and reducing emissions.

How can automotive manufacturers meet increasing legal sustainability requirements without losing competitiveness? The PEARL software tool, currently being developed by Fraunhofer IAO and KTH Vehicle Design, will provide data-driven decision support to integrate circular economy, resource conservation, and cost efficiency into vehicle design from the outset. 

The Fraunhofer Industrial Quantum Computing Consulting and Testing Center INQUBATOR is implementing innovative, easy access offerings to help industrial users get started with quantum computing. The aim is to identify and evaluate new application-related use cases where the use of quantum computers promises a foreseeable advantage. Close cooperation with industry will enable the development of innovative solutions that will secure the competitiveness of the German economy. The institutes Fraunhofer IAF, IAO, ITWM, and IPA are jointly conducting the four-year project.

How can cities in Europe translate their climate goals into concrete measures that are fair, resilient, and inclusive? This question was the focus of the international event “Cities in Action”, which was curated by Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO for the Horizon Europe UP2030 project, in collaboration with the City of Barcelona, Universidad Internacional de Catalunya (UIC Barcelona), WeDigital, ICLEI Europe, Resilient Cities Network andproject partners. Around 190 urban planners, policymakers, and researchers gathered at the historic Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau to discuss solutions for sustainable climate action and implementation in cities.

Harnessing quantum computing for industry: The Competence Center Quantum Computing Baden-Württemberg (KQCBW) is continuing to pursue this goal in the current funding phase, five years after its founding in 2020. Building on a preparatory transfer project, expertise is being further expanded under the leadership of the Fraunhofer IAF and IAO institutes.

In the ‘AI Cockpit’ project, a research team from Fraunhofer IAO and the IAT at the University of Stuttgart, together with partners from academia and industry, has developed solutions to support people in challenging situations when interacting with AI applications. The AI cockpit is designed to ensure that people can understand and control the decisions made by the AI.

Fraunhofer IAO, Fraunhofer IPA and the IAT of the University of Stuttgart are pooling their research expertise to set up the cross-institute Fraunhofer Lab “flaQship.” The lab focuses on applied quantum computing in Stuttgart and Heilbronn.

From March 31 to April 4, 2025, Fraunhofer IAO invites visitors to explore new service ideas in an immersive environment with AI personas at the joint booth of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in hall 2, booth B24. The goal of the exhibition is to make service ideas tangible at an early stage and to consider the different requirements of different customer groups in the development of business ideas.

The European Robotics Forum (ERF), the flagship event of the European robotics association (euRobotics) will take place in Stuttgart's Liederhalle from March 25 to 27, 2025. Numerous partners, prominent guests, a wide-ranging program, and a major public engagement event on the afternoon of March 24 will turn Stuttgart into an outstanding meeting place for industry, science, and public interested in the topics of robotics and AI.

A concrete solution for pressing challenges: In the CYCLOMETRIC project, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO have devised a solution that allows companies to incorporate sustainability assessments and circular economy concepts into the early phases of development processes — right where there is the most leverage for ecofriendly design.

Over 1,300 attendees from European research, industry, and politics, with more than 60 sponsors and an extensive program on robotics and artificial intelligence (AI): The top-class European Robotics Forum (ERF) of euRobotics, the European Robotics Association, will take place in Stuttgart's Liederhalle from March 25-27, 2025. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft with Fraunhofer IPA and Fraunhofer IAO, the University of Stuttgart and Cyber Valley are cooperation partners. The state capital Stuttgart and other partners also support ERF.

The potential applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the hotel industry are endless and offer numerous benefits. The current challenge lies in seamlessly integrating the AI technology into hotel operations. The new study from FutureHotel Innovation Network by Fraunhofer IAO developed potential use cases applied along the user journey, taking into account three perspectives: the hotel guest, the hotel employee, and the hotel business.

The Fraunhofer IAO supports the implementation of the innovative urban development project +Colonia on the way to a resilient Smart-Eco-City. The project will act as a Living Lab and Regulatory Innovation Zone (RIZ) for holistic planning approaches and sustainable technologies in the city of the future, developing and testing new human-centered models for communal living and working. Uruguay's National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII) is promoting the approach in its initial development phase.

In a recent study, Fraunhofer IAO presents a concept that uses data-based analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) to enable the high-level personalization of hotel rooms. The “Experience Based Booking and Selling Model” offers the automated creation of offers that are tailored to the individual needs of hotel guests. The objective of the study is to determine the extent to which currently available attributes-based booking approaches can be further developed to meet changing social trends and user needs.

How can we enable providers of apps or internet platforms to develop privacy-friendly business models while also helping users to better protect their personal data? Fraunhofer IAO, the IAT at the University of Stuttgart and partners from research and business have developed solutions to these questions in the TESTER and PERISCOPE projects. The results are being presented at the “Digital Sovereignty and Data Protection” symposium, which is being held in Stuttgart on October 9.

Fraunhofer IAO presents a new model for the hotel service ecosystem that highlights the opportunities of an expanded service offering for hotels and their environment. The focus is on the service needs of various user groups, including not only traditional hotel guests, but also the local neighborhood, hotel employees and their families, day guests in the surrounding area and guests in the digital space. At the same time, the business potential for hotels is comprehensively analyzed. Relevant actors in the hotel service ecosystem include partners of the hotel industry, such as suppliers, service providers and investors, as well as local companies and organizations and political decision-makers.

Advancing the key technology of quantum computing: This is the mission of the Competence Center Quantum Computing Baden-Württemberg (KQCBW). The center is now entering the next phase, in which it will build on the successful cooperation projects to date. The continuation of the research and development work of its partners from science and industry is being prepared within a transfer project. Under the leadership of the Fraunhofer IAF and IAO institutes, the KQCBW is further expanding its leading role in application-oriented quantum computing research in order to unlock the application potential of quantum computers for industry.

The Global Upskill project, the platform for hands-on career training, will get a breath of fresh air thanks to the new partnership with appose GmbH. The aim of this partnership is to identify future-relevant skills requirements through systematic tracking and analysis of trends. The findings should help companies prepare for future challenges in the best way possible.

Fraunhofer IAO and Apaleo, the leading open platform for the hospitality industry, announce strategic partnership. The collaboration aims to establish practical AI applications in the hospitality industry so that hoteliers can achieve their business goals and accelerate their operations.

As part of the Morgenstadt (City of the Future) initiative, Fraunhofer IAO is forming a strategic partnership with Maekyung Media Group from Seoul, South Korea. The aim of this collaboration is to work together to develop and implement climate innovation projects in Korean cities and regions, with a particular focus on plans for “Morgenstadt City Labs”.

The EU Horizon 2020 Innovation Action project “ACCSESS” highlights the urgency of climate change and offers science-based solutions to mitigate its effects. The aim of the Fraunhofer IAO project is to promote urban sustainability and to support cities in the implementation and social integration of carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) technologies.

The URBREATH research project, which is funded by the European Union, got underway at the start of the year. Its aim is to implement nature-based solutions (NBS) in urban areas in order to improve the resilience of cities and boost the quality of life in these environments. Fraunhofer IAO is one of the project partners and is responsible for scaling and replicating innovative solutions and methods within the project.

Allaying anxieties, emphasizing potential — with their KI-Studios (AI Studios), experts from the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO are bringing workplace artificial intelligence to life. Their KI-Infomobil (AI Infomobile) will be appearing at the Hannover Messe from April 22 to 26. Guests are welcome to visit Fraunhofer at Booth B24 in Hall 2 to learn how AI technologies work, where they can be used, and how they can make people’s work easier.

KI-Studios (AI Studios) aims to empower employees and their interest groups from all sectors to help shape company applications of artificial intelligence. The prerequisite for this is that employees have a concrete understanding of the possibilities, areas of application, and limitations of AI. They must be aware of the positive potential of AI for their workplace, but also its risks and challenges.

How can light pulses in the vehicle interior improve the performance and well-being of the passengers? Scientists at the Fraunhofer IAO are researching answers to this question at the Mass Personalization High-Performance Center in the »Mobility and Living Spaces« department. As part of an international research collaboration, an initial vehicle prototype was prepared in San Diego and tested with various users.

Urbanization presents major challenges not only for industrialized nations, but also for emerging countries, particularly when it comes to their future transport infrastructure. The “Emerging Urban Mobility” study carried out by Fraunhofer IAO looks at the demand for mobility and current challenges experienced in emerging economies, and also identifies solutions for the future of urban mobility. It provides an incentive for an increased international transfer of knowledge in the fields of transport and mobility planning in the future, which should be less influenced by the dominant perspective of industrialized countries in the West.

Long distances, congestion and even traffic jams — the commute to work is not just a source of stress for many but dead time. Or is it? Not necessarily. Innovations in mobility are opening up new work design opportunities that are set to boost efficiency. But what changes need to be made to automated vehicles to achieve this? Fraunhofer IAO is working together with TWT on a study investigating just that.

As part of a working meeting of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), experts from science and politics have drawn up ten recommendations for action on shaping artificial intelligence (AI) in the future of work. Fraunhofer IAO is involved with Dr. Matthias Peissner as head of the “Future of Work” working group.

What opportunities arise from the NFT hype for the hotel and tourism sector? It allows previously intangible goods to be assigned a value and become tradable. The new “FutureHotel Innovation Network” study of Fraunhofer IAO explains the technology, how and where it is already used, and presents relevant fields of application.

In the future, the internet will feel increasingly like the real world, operating in immersive virtual and extended reality environments rather than on 2D screens. We refer to this as the metaverse. What potential does this technology offer for the hotel industry? A new study by Fraunhofer IAO outlines its benefits and drawbacks and presents specific use cases.  

Prof. Dr. Jakob Edler, executive director of Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI in Karlsruhe, took over as chair of the Fraunhofer Group for Innovation Research on July 1, 2023. Edler takes over from Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Bauer, who sits on the management board at Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO in Stuttgart and who has headed the group since it was set up six years ago.