Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI

Together with other institutes of the Fraunhofer Group for Innovation Research, Fraunhofer ISI has identified the most important future topics of applied research. In a foresight process, technological and societal developments were analysed with regard to their innovation potential and their relevance for applied research. Some spotlight topics such as geoengineering were discussed particularly controversially.

The project STRATEGY CCUS has started. In the blog Dr. Elisabeth Dütschke and Julius Wesche describe their  work package “Stakeholder engagement“. The Fraunhofer ISI analyses the social acceptance and stakeholders' perceptions, needs and concerns to secure the early and pro-active participation of all relevant groups early in the elaboration of the CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage) development plans.

Fraunhofer ISI coordinated an international futures research team, which explored technical and social innovations that could radically change value chains in the coming years. The Radical Innovation Breakthrough Inquirer (RIBRI) report identified 100 potential innovation breakthroughs in fields such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics or biomedicine, and indicates how the EU can prepare for them.  

Car bans for conventional drive trains are one possible measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve sustainability goals. The Fraunhofer ISI and the Simon Fraser University (Canada) have developed recommendations on how car bans could be implemented in a meaningful way.

According to a study by Fraunhofer ISI, trucking companies are open to switching to alternative powertrains. Developments in technology and infrastructure and political support are needed to turn this basic willingness into an actual change.

The 18th report on “The State of Renewable Energies in Europe” highlights the dynamic growth of renewable energies in the heating sector – especially heat pumps. The 2018 edition also reveals an increase in the total share of renewable energies from 17% in 2016 to 17.5% in 2017.

The Association négaWatt (Paris) has gathered partners to work on the development of a long term European energy transition scenario. The Fraunhofer ISI will support this network by providing expert consultation to partnering organization on their own energy demand models, focusing on the implementation of sufficiency considerations therein.