Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISIIntroducing numerous new technologies to the production technique increases the spectrum of technical possibilities – and this shifts the feasibility boundaries in industrial production. The most important technological drivers are digitalization, automatization and autonomization. 3D manufacturing processes and biologization, i. e. using biological principles in technology, as well as employing biotechnological manufacturing processes and processing bio-based raw materials.
On the one hand, here innovations can begin on the micro level of individual components or materials, for example by designs inspired by nature. On the other hand, on the macro level, they can fundamentally transform the production and added value, one example here is a fully automated and decentralized “on demand production” or the recycling of valuable materials. This way manufacturing processes can become more flexible, more efficient and more sustainable, also the development and production of new products becomes possible.
Fraunhofer ISI analyses how production and value-added processes are changed by new technologies and which developments and challenges go hand in hand with these transformation processes. On the one hand, the scientists look at the direct usage context and the users' perspective. On the other hand, they investigate from an overarching perspective what contributions they make to addressing societal needs and to solving central global challenges.