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Self-actuating textile structures are used in a wide range of applications, such as medical technology, automation, architecture, agriculture, and the apparel industry. An example is the use of shading nets in greenhouses, which can be deployed and retracted depending on the sunlight intensity. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) are developing textiles based on shape-memory polymers with reversibly controllable geometry.

Deep insights into complex mixtures of substances, more precise conclusions about structure-property relationships, and new possibilities for quality control and process optimization: With a new infrastructure for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam Science Park supports companies in the plastics, fiber, and materials industries in developing and improving advanced materials. The focus is on polymer materials—ranging from poorly soluble substances and gels to chemically resistant plastics and carbon fiber intermediates.

Developing the building blocks for sustainable chemistry using yeast—and reducing reliance on fossil-based feedstocks: Since March 2026, the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP at Potsdam Science Park and the TAILOR junior research group at the University of Potsdam, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), have joined forces to help make this vision a reality. Together, they offer companies seeking to make their processes more sustainable by using microorganisms an end-to-end development pipeline—from strain engineering and bioprocess optimization to industrial scale-up and application testing.

Bio-based polymers provide new possibilities for a circular plastics economy. Together with experts from industry and research, the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE will discuss the potential these polymers offer, the challenges that still need to be addressed, and will demonstrate their successful conversion into industrial applications in an interactive workshop on September 15, 2026, at the DECHEMA FORUM in Frankfurt.

For the industry, recycled materials are creating new opportunities in geotextile production. In the GREEN project, the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excel-lence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE demonstrates that recycled polypro-pylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and high-density polyeth-ylene (HDPE) can be processed into nonwovens, fibers, and membranes that meet industrial requirements. This creates opportunities for use in existing production lines and new value chains in the geotextile market.

Metallic effects on plastic surfaces have become standard in many industries, from automotive interiors and exteriors to toys and household appliances. However, injection-molded parts with metallic effects suffer from a well-known drawback: visible flow lines that appear as streaks and compromise the premium look. A new method for producing metallic effect pigments, currently being optimized at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP, enables high-quality metallic effects on plastic surfaces with significantly reduced flow-line visibility – without an additional coating step.

Microcapsules containing a reactive two-component adhesive can simplify bonding processes in industry and assembly while improving occupational safety: The adhesive is initially safely enclosed in capsules, contact with exposed reactive components can be reduced, and activation takes place only during pressing at room temperature. The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam Science Park is looking for partners from industry and research who would like to contribute specific components, carrier materials or assembly processes for application-oriented testing.

How can materials automatically perform protective functions in the event of a fire, and why are sustainable flame retardants becoming increasingly important? The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP will present answers to these questions at FeuerTrutz 2026 in Nuremberg. From June 24 to 25, 2026, researchers will showcase thermoresponsive functional materials and bio-based flame retardants for fire protection applications in construction, mobility, and industry in Hall 4.

A cost-effective and multifunctional filler for paints and coatings could be obtained from chicken feathers in the future: keratin. Researchers at two Fraunhofer Institutes have achieved promising results with this protein.

Since 2025, Fraunhofer IWU has been heading the Lightweight Design Research Field. This alliance brings together the expertise of 16 Fraunhofer institutes, creating a powerful, interdisciplinary platform along the entire lightweight engineering value chain—from material development to validated application in products. The goal is to provide companies with integrated research and development services “from a single source” and to transform innovations into industrial applications.