Press

Artificial intelligence is set to fundamentally transform the development of software-defined vehicles (SDVs). In the European research project AI4SDV (AI-assisted methods and tools for Software-Defined Vehicle engineering automation), more than 50 partners from industry and academia are working on an open, AI-assisted engineering toolchain for the development and safety assurance of software-defined vehicles. The Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE is contributing its expertise in safety engineering and developing approaches to ensure that AI-assisted engineering processes can be used in a trustworthy and traceable manner, even for safety-critical vehicle functions.

How digital technologies are transforming the security and defense industry and what opportunities this presents for companies was the focus of the CVC Technology Site Visit at Fraunhofer IESE in Kaiserslautern. The event brought together representatives from industry and research to discuss current developments, funding opportunities, and future trends in the sector.

To virtually develop, integrate, and test complex systems, simulation models, software components, and communication technologies from different sources must interact reliably. With FERAL, Fraunhofer IESE has a powerful platform for simulation and virtual evaluation. FERAL is now also listed on the official Tools Page of the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI), making it visible within the international FMI ecosystem.

With the kickoff meeting on August 17, 2026, the ddpp (Decentralized Data Privacy Protocol) project officially began its collaboration. The goal of the project is to make it significantly easier for people to manage their privacy settings and to strengthen their digital sovereignty. To this end, the research project is developing an open web protocol designed to enable users to manage their privacy preferences across different services from a location of their choosing. The project has been running since July 1, 2026, for a period of three years. The Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE is the consortium leader, and Saarland University is a project partner.

Today, Monday, August 3, 2026, Michael Ebling, Minister of Economic Affairs, Tourism, Energy, and Climate, and Clemens Hoch, Minister of Science, Continuing Education, and Health for the State of Rhineland-Palatinate, visited the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE in Kaiserslautern. The focus was on efficient AI-supported engineering of dependable software and concrete applications in industry and healthcare.

The audience at the AAS Solutions Summit 2026 honored the Industrial BaSyx solution with the AAS Solutions Award 2026. Frank Schnicke from the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE and Alwin Hoffmann from XITASO GmbH presented the solution at the event. The award recognizes both an outstanding Asset Administration Shell (AAS) solution and a presentation that particularly impressed the audience.

Innovative mRNA-based therapeutics and vaccines offer hope in the fight against cancer, genetic disorders and infections. However, their development and production are complex, slow and difficult to scale. Seven Fraunhofer institutes are working to change this situation. In the RNAuto project, they have now developed an automated, digitally controlled production system that is fast, flexible and cost-effective.

How can cities and regions be designed not only to respond to demographic, social, and digital upheavals, but also to actively shape the future? This was the question addressed by the conference “Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Smart City” (IPSC 2026), which took place for the second time in Kaiserslautern on May 21 and 22, 2026. The event brought together academia, public administration, and politics to discuss current research on municipal digitalization, smart cities, and societal transformation.

In the new research project DINKA (Data Interoperability in Disaster Management and Elderly Care), the German Red Cross (DRK) Rhineland-Palatinate and the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE, together with other partners, are developing a digital platform that can save lives in an emergency. The goal is to provide emergency responders with critical information more quickly in the event of a disaster – especially in areas where people are particularly dependent on support. The DINKA project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs for a duration of two years. The official kick-off event took place on April 28, 2026, at the Southwest Palatinate District Administration.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE has developed VIMOPROP, a modular software platform that supports pharmaceutical manufacturers in the virtual design, simulation, and commissioning of production processes. The platform makes a concrete contribution to the implementation of Pharma 4.0 by combining digital twins, modular production concepts, and integrated quality assurance in a consistent digital approach. The goal is to make complex production environments – particularly for the manufacture of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) – more flexible, efficient, and compliant with regulatory requirements.