Fraunhofer magazine 4 / 20 Quantum What computers lies Neuromorphic ahead in chips Trusted 2021 computing Open up the New Year! Series –-–> Founders –--–> Spin-offs –––––––––> Reasons for Fraunhofer “Without Fraunhofer? Our spin-off would simply not exist!” To the app! To the app! THE CORONA-WARN-APP: THE CORONA-WARN-APP: PROTECTS PROTECTS ALL THOSE ALL THOSE IMPORTANT IMPORTANT TO YOU. TODownload YOU. the Corona-Warn-App now Downloadand fi ght thethe Corona-Warn-Appcoronavirus together. now and fi ght the coronavirus together. back to page 1 bpa_Corona_APP_Plakat_A4_210x297_QR_Code_Master_EN_CMYK_ICv2_RZ01.indd 4 07.07.20 16:20 bpa_Corona_APP_Plakat_A4_210x297_QR_Code_Master_EN_CMYK_ICv2_RZ01.indd 4 07.07.20 16:20 Fraunhofer magazine 4.20 - 3 Let us face our challenges head on! Prof. Reimund Neugebauer © Fraunhofer / Bernhard Huber “What does the future hold?” The Editorial for this magazine the Fraunhofer Quantum Computing Competence Network, opened with the same question precisely one year ago. At but also dedicated to the German economy as a whole. The the time, nobody knew or could even have imagined how first projects are about to get underway. This Fraunhofer 2020 was set to change under the fallout of COVID-19. magazine takes a look at what computing of the future Given everything we have come to realize as this year can and will do. One thing is already clear: The association draws to a close, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has emerged between quantum and artificial intelligence will be nothing extremely well from the year of the pandemic. I would like short of a future key technology for safeguarding Germany's to thank all our employees, researchers, institute directors competitive ability in international high-tech markets. for the discipline and judgment they have shown. Even in this difficult time, together we have successfully generated Quantum computing is set to become one of the strong fresh momentum with our innovation push and coronavirus pillars for building the future – alongside trusted computing, program. set to achieve digital security, and neuromorphic computing, which models itself on the marvel of the human brain. The contribution to the development of EUV litho- graphy made by Dr. Sergiy Yulin and his team from the Science has played no small part in our fresh optimism as we Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engi- step into 2021. The record time in which corona vaccines neering IOF has made sure we are able to close the year with have been developed and pushed to the approval stage an extremely positive result. Together with fellow researchers is impressive testimony to the true value of research. The from ZEISS and TRUMPF, Dr. Yulin won the German Future challenges are not about to get easier. But if this last year has Prize on November 25 (see page 62). Fraunhofer IOF has taught us one thing, it's this: We have the strength to face won this award, presented by the Federal President, for the them head on. third time, and Fraunhofer as a whole nine times. For the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, it is not the only positive to come out of 2020, a “year in which we have talked about science Yours sincerely, more than ever before,” as Frank-Walter Steinmeier puts in a nutshell. As unexpectedly as this year has developed, the Fraunhofer- Gesellschaft has resolutely stuck to its goals. The first quan- tum computer, which Fraunhofer wanted to bring to Germany together with IBM, is about to go into operation. Reaching Germany by ship in November, it will be available in the town Reimund Neugebauer of Ehningen in Baden-Württemberg from January 2021 – for President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft back to page 1 4 - Fraunhofer magazine 4.20 10 “The future of Contents computing is hybrid” Fraunhofer brought the first quantum computers to Germany in November. It's now putting them into operation. Neuromorphic computing, trusted computing and quantum computing are the three pillars for building a future. 62 A threesome that saw the - ultraviolet - light milestone in the production of microchips: German Future Prize for EUV lithography – and for Fraunhofer. 03 Editorial 32 Fraunhofer worldwide 06 Brief report, Editorial notes 34 Revealed by the breath Cancer, diabetes, kidney disease – a host of conditions 10 Title: “The future of computing is hybrid” can be detected by analyzing the breath Time for a new generation – productive, trusted and resource-efficient 36 Founder series: “Without Fraunhofer? Our spin-off would simply not exist!” 21 Edge AI helps save energy Buying shoes online? mySHOEFITTER will help even Artificial intelligence reaches the end device the carbon footprint fit 26 A voice from the business world 38 Perfectly packed Dr. Robert Bauer, Chairman of the Executive Board of Dr. Amberg-Schwab researches the perfect packaging – SICK AG: “Quantum technology makes it to the market” and sweeps up award after award 28 Autonomous and safe 41 Smart devices - a complex ecobalance The dream of traveling in perfect comfort is an old one – Where are the problems in design and technology? but it's starting to become reality 42 Breathing thanks to moon dust 30 Being understood despite coronavirus protection Oxygen in outer space: The ROXY reactor paves the Which mask causes the most distraction as we speak? way for long stays on lunar soil © German Future Prize / Ansgar Pudenz, Oliver Hilterhaus, Science Photo Library, Lars Berg, Daniel Biber, Plainpicture back to page 1 Fraunhofer magazine 4.20 - 5 44 New mission as a medicine mRNA is helping in the fight against coronavirus – and has even greater potential. 36 New series about founders and spin-offs: “Without Fraunhofer? Our spin-off would simply not exist!” How mySHOEFITTER makes sure shoes never pinch again. 64 Logistics 56 Too valuable at record speed for the compost heap LoadRunner learns Thousands of tons of how to deliver parcels food rot away, and from the intelligence they hold valuable raw of a swarm of birds. materials. Coronavirus is keeping peo- 44 New mission as a medicine 56 Waste as a source of raw materials ple off the shopping streets, mRNA is not only the magic word in the battle German Sustainability Award: online retailing is exploding against coronavirus – in future, it will be able to Raw materials from food waste with Christmas business. fight cancer as well In the five weeks before 58 Can we prolong youthfulness? Christmas, Deutsche Post 47 mRNA - a new class of vaccines What 130 genes can reveal about the DHL delivered 1.6 billion How messenger RNA works inside the body biological age of human beings packages, more than it did in the whole of 2019: 100 48 The history of immunization 60 Two ways to an assured recovery percent in November, 100 Humans will be turned into animals, feared the anti- Germany holds the world record for hip percent ahead of the usual vaxxers early on. Many Nazis too refused the needle operations. Fraunhofer helps prevent high season. Customers and complications companies can feel it: the 50 Ready for mass production challenges for the logistics How Fraunhofer researchers are contributing to 62 German Future Prize for Fraunhofer of tomorrow are on the rise. the corona vaccine Away in a new dimension: EUV lithography Fraunhofer connects AI to has reached the smartphone – and has even swarm intelligence for its 53 “There are many horses in the race” greater potential! LoadRunner solution (see Vaccine expert Dr. Ulbert in an interview p. 64). 64 Logistics at record speed 54 Quick curbing of paper mountains Record numbers of parcels sent at Christmas Assistants in hospitals, courtrooms and businesses: 2020 – a glance at the future Deep learning algorithms back to page 1 6 - Fraunhofer magazine 4.20 Enjoy without a care Almonds, the delicious ingredient in gingerbread and spiced cookies, are often colonized by salmonella. A new process developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Christmas is a time for Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT gives these germs enjoyment. But almonds no chance. can sometimes pose a health risk. © iStockphoto According to the German Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BLV), nuts, nut products and almonds. “It is common knowledge that pressurized carbon seeds are among those foods that most frequently had to be dioxide can kill pathogenic bacteria in liquids such as orange recalled from retailers in 2019. juice. Our research has shown that under certain conditions this also works with dry food,” says Fuchs. Carbon dioxide “Salmonella go dormant to survive on almonds. If is not harmful to the environment or health and can be water enters the picture, salmonella then proliferate explo- separated from almonds without any trace of residuals. This sively. But it only takes between ten and a hundred of these does not involve any energy-intensive steps for purification. bacteria to cause food poisoning. Contaminated almonds that make their way into production facilities after harvesting The almonds are decontaminated and impregnated with can also contaminate other batches,” explains Karen Fuchs, antimicrobial oils using compressed carbon dioxide in a a researcher at the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, high-pressure autoclave. The oil extract coats the almond, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT in Oberhausen. In making it difficult for germs to recontaminate the fruit. The a joint project with researchers at the University of Alberta advantages of this process are these: the almonds retain in Canada called MiDeCO2, the scientist and her team their characteristic flavor and quality. The process does not investigated technologies that could serve to decontaminate adversely affect their shelf life or lipid composition. Precisely printed heaters Fraunhofer researchers have developed, for satellites and First, the components are insulated with a thin ceramic spaceships, especially reliable ceramic-silver heaters that can coating and the heating elements are then applied using be seamlessly applied to components.