Customized Material Innovations – Fraunhofer ISC - Fraunhofer ISC

Building Fraunhofer ISC — © Katrin Heyer for Fraunhofer ISC

The Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC in Würzburg offers first-class expertise in materials science with many years of experience in processing, applying and analysing materials.

Scarcity of raw materials, competitive pressure and a shortage of skilled labour are just some of the many challenges facing the manufacturing industry. Researchers at the ISC are focussing on industrially applicable solutions for affordable healthcare and regenerative therapies, resource and energy efficiency as well as sustainability and the circular economy.

Particular attention is paid to the use of bio-based and business-friendly raw materials, the avoidance of critical raw materials and intelligent and sustainable processing techniques.

In addition to contract research and development, the ISC also offers production-related analysis and characterisation, process optimisation, equipment construction and the upscaling of manufacturing and processing methods to pilot scale.

News from Fraunhofer ISC

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FIP-FPM@KU sealed the deal

On February 4th, Prof. Dr. Miriam Unterlass (ISC Director) and Gerhard Domann (CeSMA) visited »Korea University Sejong Campus - The Sejong Institute of International Affairs and Education« for the official Opening Ceremony of the exciting Joint 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗵𝗼𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 - the FIP-FPM@KU. The focus is on innovative solutions for stretchable, transparent and high-resolution displays.

FIP-FPM@KU

© BayStartUP / Bert Willer

CellCircle wins "Energie Start-up Bayern 2024"

On november 27th, the start-up CellCircle, which was spun off from Fraunhofer ISC, was awarded the "Energie Start-up Bayern 2024" by Bayern Innovativ. CellCircle develops innovative recycling processes for lithium-ion batteries to efficiently recover valuable materials and improve the carbon footprint.

Congratulations to the CellCircle team with Dr. Andreas Bittner!

CellCircle

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New Space Project for Fast Future Testing

"NeT pioneer" project kick-off

On August 13, 2024, the joint project "NeT pioneer" started with a kick-off workshop at Fraunhofer ISC. The aim is to create digitally networked test capacities for satellite development in Germany, especially for SMEs and start-ups in the space industry. The ISC digital team is contributing its expertise in setting up robot-supported and digitalized technology platforms.

Projects "New Space"

© Florian Gaertner/photothek.de

1st place for “StellarHeal”

Innovative wound care for wound healing in space

With a revolutionary project for faster and better wound healing in space as well as on Earth, the research team “StellarHeal” wins 1st place in the Innospace Master Challenge of the German Space Agency at DLR. Congratulations to our colleagues Dr. Dieter Groneberg and Dr. Bastian Christ from TLC-RT on this success!

Project "StellarHeal"

Lecture

Safety Through Visibility

Safety in Handling Hydrogen

Lecture by Dr. Sarah Wenderoth
February 13, 2025 / 11:00
H2 MSE in Siegburg, Bonn

H2 MSE 2025

Antimicrobial surfaces with ORMOCER^®

ORMOCER^® coatings can be antimicrobially modified to work effectively against bacteria and other microorganisms on certain surfaces.

Antimicrobial Coatings

PI / 30.1.25

Project “HiQ-LCA”

HiQ-LCA promotes industry collaboration to meet data needs and support compliance with the new EU Battery Regulation.

To the press release

Lecture

Polymeric Electrochromics

»Polymeric Electrochromics - Large-Scale Processing and Durability Testing«
Dr. Marco Schott, April 9, 2025 MRS.

MRS Spring Meeting Seattle

Fields of activity at Fraunhofer ISC

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Materials

Overview Materials

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Processing

Overview Processing

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Applications

Overview Applications

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Analytics

Overview Analytics

Centers of Fraunhofer ISC

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Fraunhofer Translational Center Regenerative Therapies TLC-RT

Life Science at TLC-RT: solutions in the fields of cellular bioengineering.

Website TLC-RT

© Fraunhofer ISC

Center of Device Development CeDeD

The Center of Device Development CeDeD develops, designs and builds special scientific devices and research systems according to individual customer requirements.

Website CeDeD

© K. Dobberke for Fraunhofer ISC

Center for High Temperature Materials and Design HTL

The HTL designs energy-efficient thermal processes and thus contributes to sustainable technological progress in society.

It develops high-temperature materials, high-temperature components and high-temperature measurement methods and thus optimizes thermal processes.

Website HTL

Fields of expertise:

30.1.2025

HiQ-LCA fosters industry collaboration to address data needs and drive compliance with new EU Battery Regulation

The HiQ-LCA project, funded by EIT RawMaterials and co-funded by the EU, supports the battery industry in complying with the EU Battery Regulation by offering various tools and services, including an advanced Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) database to be developed as a satellite database of the renowned ecoinvent database. To foster collaboration and encourage data contribution, project partner ecoinvent successfully organized industry workshops in 2023 and 2024, bringing together stakeholders to address key challenges and promote transparency. By contributing data, industry leaders gain access to peer-reviewed LCAs, compliance support, and an enhanced role in advancing sustainable battery production.

more info

11.12.2024

High Efficiency Meets Sustainability: Fraunhofer Lighthouse Project Shows Way for Next-Generation Tandem Solar Cells

Perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells made of stable materials and manufactured using scalable production processes are the prerequisite for the next technological leap in the photovoltaic industry. Over the past five years, six Fraunhofer Institutes combined their expertise in the Fraunhofer lighthouse project "MaNiTU" to identify the most sustainable paths for the market launch of such tandem solar cells. They were able to show for one that high cell efficiencies can be achieved using industry-oriented processes, however, that such high efficiencies were only currently achievable with lead perovskite materials. Based on these findings, the researchers developed suitable recycling concepts to ensure sustainability.

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1.10.2024

New director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC appointed

October 1 marks the beginning of a new era at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC in Würzburg. Prof. Dr. Miriam Unterlass takes over the management of the renowned Würzburg Fraunhofer Institute. The chemist and materials scientist, who previously taught at the University of Constance and the Vienna University of Technology, brings her focus on the synthesis of new functional materials to Würzburg and enriches the portfolio of the Fraunhofer ISC and the University of Würzburg with her expertise, where she will take over the Chair of Chemical Technology of Materials Synthesis in personal union.

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25.6.2024

The REWIND project: A leap into the future for battery recycling

Without lithium-ion batteries, environmentally friendly mobility and a sustain-able energy supply would be virtually inconceivable. However, the increasing demand for batteries and the associated raw materials poses major challenges. The REWIND project aims to overcome important obstacles on the way to an efficient and ecologically sustainable circular economy. REWIND is part of the BattFutur program of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

more info

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Fairs and Events

Meet us in person at trade fairs, congresses and symposia. We look forward to seeing you!

Fairs and Events

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Annual Reports

In our annual reports you will find information on selected research activities as well as facts and figures about Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research.

annual reports

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Publications

Here you will find our scientific publications, specialist information (e.g. flyers) and annual reports.

Publications at Fraunhofer ISC

13.5.2025

5th Symposium zur Nanotechnology

SAVE THE DATE: Nanotechnology is a core technology utilized in numerous sectors. The 5th Symposium on Nanotechnology, organized by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Fraunhofer Nanotechnology Network FNT, will once again address the opportunities and risks associated with this rapidly evolving field. The two-day event at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC in Würzburg will address a range of topics related to the application of nanotechnology in various sectors, including digitalization, 2D/3D printing, carbon-based materials and battery materials.

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13.5.2025

SID Display Week 2025

Join us at SID Display Week in San Jose (USA) from May 13–15, 2025! Fraunhofer ISC will be exhibiting at the German Pavilion, Booth 1132. We will showcase our innovative material solutions for display technologies – from high-performance materials and manufacturing processes for µ-displays to flexible and transparent displays, as well as integrated optical elements. Discover the latest advancements in diffractive and holographic optics, light management, printed transparent electrodes, and more. Stop by and meet our experts – we look forward to seeing you!

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18.11.2024

European Hydrogen Week 2024

Visit the Fraunhofer Hydrogen Network booth C4 in Hall 11 at the European Hydrogen Week from November 18-21, 2024 in Brussels for an informative exchange about our know-how in the field of hydrogen. Together with other Fraunhofer institutes, the ISC presents groundbreaking innovations and solutions for the sustainable energy supply of the future.

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13.11.2024

Sustainable Industry Week 2024

Visit us from November 13 - 14, 2024, at the Sustainable Industry Week in Cologne. We will be represented at the joint booth of the Fraunhofer Alliance Chemistry booth E62. There we present customized multifunctional catalysts that make processes more efficient and sustainable according to the principles of »green chemistry«. These innovative catalysts combine various functions in one particle, which greatly increases their efficiency . We look forward to seeing you there!

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