Press releases and news

High recognition for application-oriented AI research from East Westphalia-Lippe: The Fraunhofer Institute in Lemgo, together with the Diwo sculpture studio in Paderborn, has been awarded the Seifriz Prize 2026. The prize recognizes the successful collaboration between craftsmanship and science in the development of “StoneCrackMon.” The innovation was developed as part of the project “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Offensive for Crafts in North Rhine-Westphalia” (KIDiHa).

The project “KI4PED – AI-based optimization of pedestrian crossing times through smart traffic light systems” by Fraunhofer IOSB-INA in Lemgo has made it onto the international list of the International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI) under the auspices of UNESCO. KI4PED was rated “Excellent” by the reviewers in the “IRCAI Top 100: Global AI for SDGs Index 2025” and is thus one of the 100 AI innovations worldwide that make a special contribution to sustainability and the 17 goals of the United Nations.

How can humans and machines be brought together in a way that benefits both? This question is the focus of the new Humation – Human-Centered Automation competence network, which was jointly founded by Bielefeld University and Fraunhofer IOSB-INA in Lemgo. The aim is to design the interaction between humans, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation in such a way that work processes become safer, more flexible, and more efficient, while at the same time keeping humans at the center.

The new white paper “AI Beyond The Prototype” highlights challenges and solutions for the sustainable use of customized AI models in industry. It shows how anomalies can be detected early, resource efficiency optimized, and AI systems made robust for stable continuous operation. The white paper, published by several Fraunhofer institutes and initiatives, is available to companies free of charge.

How can we make our increasingly interconnected world more resilient? This question was the focus of the 8th Fraunhofer Alumni Summit on November 14, 2025, in Berlin. Researchers, economic experts, and representatives of government institutions discussed current developments, demonstrated practical security solutions, and showed how Germany can arm itself against cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and hybrid threats.

At the IEEE Future Networks World Forum (November 10–12, 2025) in Bangalore, Fraunhofer mobile communications expert Timo Siekmann presented the latest research findings on improving smartphone location tracking. The international expert forum is considered one of the world's most important platforms for future technologies in mobile communications and networked systems.

The NachWinD innovation project (increasing sustainability and precision in winter road maintenance) is taking another decisive step toward climate-friendly, resource-efficient, and safe winter road maintenance: Starting in winter 2025/26, extensive practical testing of a new type of digital winter road maintenance management system will begin. The system has been prepared, installed, and is ready to prove its performance under real conditions in the district of Lippe and the city of Paderborn.

Inspiring presentations by top-class experts, practical workshops, and interactive exchange formats on the future-oriented topic of digital twins attracted around 120 internal and external experts to the Innovation Campus Lemgo on October 7, 2025, for the “Digital Twin Day” event jointly organized by the OWL University of Applied Sciences and the Fraunhofer IOSB-INA.

Can artificial intelligence be creative? This question is the focus of the new special exhibition “A Kind of Art. Artificial Intelligence Meets (Weser) Renaissance,” which will be on display from September 16 to December 14, 2025, at Brake Castle and the Weser Renaissance Museum. Together with numerous partners from Lemgo and the East Westphalia-Lippe region, Fraunhofer IOSB-INA is actively involved in designing the exhibition, contributing its many years of expertise in artificial intelligence research.

The old Hanseatic city of Lemgo proves that cities can not only preserve history and tradition, but also actively shape digital change. In the latest smart city ranking by Haselhorst Associates, Lemgo once again secured the top spot in East Westphalia-Lippe with an impressive development level of 41.56%.