Press

On behalf of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Fraunhofer ISI, together with other institutes of the Fraunhofer Group for Innovation Research, 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.

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.