Fraunhofer IESE at a Glance

Embedded Systems

The digital transformation requires ever greater networking of systems and system components to form systems of systems. Digital Twins represent these assets in the digital world and map their current state by means of synchronized data and models. A uniform and vendor-independent interface enables end-to-end simulations and analysis at the system level, for example, to predict the effects of changes, make decisions, or even feed changes from the models back into the real world.

In the division “Embedded Systems”, we conduct research on Digital Twins to develop virtual test benches and simulation solutions, also as a basis for Continuous Engineering, for testing and qualifying networked driving functions. To this end, we simulate platform components, such as vehicle buses and networks, but also processors and faulty behavior. With our DRAM simulation, leading memory development companies first test new concepts on Digital Twins. Through digital representations of system components and their interfaces, we digitalize production lines and supply chains and support their virtual commissioning. We make Smart Grids resilient and automate the production and quality assurance of individualized therapeutics (ATMP). Our many years of experience in safety engineering guarantee the highest quality and safety for classical and dynamically coupled systems 

Dependable Systems

Increasing digitalization, networking, and the growing use of Artificial Intelligence are significant trends seen in recent years that enable the emergence of new digital business models and steadily increasing automation in almost all application areas. These developments are set to continue in the coming years and will have an ongoing impact on our everyday lives. For companies, this opens up immense opportunities, but there are also considerable challenges to be overcome, accompanied by intensive global competition.

One central challenge is how to ensure the dependability of these new and extremely complex systems. This includes functional safety and operational safety (Safety), cyber security and data security (Security), as well as trustworthy and dependable Artificial Intelligence. And all this must not only be guaranteed, but also verifiable. This is the only way that will allow the successful establishment on the market of new applications and business models that are being pursued in various areas, such as Industry 4.0, autonomous driving, and digital health.

The division “Dependable Systems” makes an important contribution to the realization of these new applications and products by researching innovative solutions to ensure dependability in intelligent, networked, and autonomous systems. The division is divided into four specialist areas dealing with AI innovations and safety assurance of AI systems (Data Science department), assurance of functional and operational safety (Safety Engineering department), assurance of cyber security and data sovereignty (Security Engineering department), and digital transformation in the healthcare sector (Digital Health Engineering department).

Digital Innovation & Smart City

Digital Ecosystems and digital platforms have fundamentally reshaped entire industries and also play a decisive role in the digital transformation of cities and regions. They offer companies the opportunity for disruptive change with new business models and empower cities and regions to become “smart”. 

In the division “Digital Innovation & Smart City”, we create innovative solutions around modern software and accompany our customers throughout the entire product lifecycle. Our particular strength lies in the fact that we are experts in many different industries and always look beyond traditional boundaries, work in an interdisciplinary manner, and use this strength to the benefit of our customers.  

Our research focus topics and our services focus on two areas: 
We use innovative methods and solutions across industries to establish Digital Ecosystems and develop digital platforms. We work with companies starting from the initial design of Digital Ecosystems, support them in the technical implementation, and accompany their market entry. In doing so, we get directly involved in our customers’ projects and transfer our knowledge and our solutions to our customers. Our services range from the initial generation of ideas and the design of digital solutions to the design and implementation of suitable architectures. We improve our customers’ products and services across industries. 

One special focus is the design of innovative Smart Cities and Smart Regions. Together with our customers, we analyze existing structures and processes and design their digital strategy. We advise them on existing solution approaches or design, develop, and evaluate digital services for urban and rural areas. We not only have extensive competencies in key technologies such as data platforms, AI, and Digital Twins; we are also convinced that cities and regions can only be as smart as their inhabitants – because the focus of Smart Cities and Smart Regions is on providing added value for people