Brazil is increasingly investing in alternative energy because of its good economic situation. The conversion of solar energy into electricity is an important part of this strategy. Organic photovoltaics are intended to provide areas of Brazil marked by poor infrastructure with electricity. This includes not only light, but also the access to modern means of communication such as computers and smartphones. Therefor, the Brazilian company Flexsolar in Joinville and the German Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam-Golm develop flexible organic solar cells in a joint project.

Blindness is often caused by corneal diseases. The established treatment is a corneal transplant, but in many cases this is not possible and donor corneas are often hard to come by. In the future, an artificial cornea could make up for this deficiency and save the vision of those affected.

On September 17, 2012 the research policy spokesman of the FDP parliamentary group Professor Martin Neumann, visited the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam-Golm. Institute Director Professor Hans-Peter Fink informed about research activities in the recently opened Application Center for Innovative Polymer Technologies and the project group for „Biopolymer Applications“ which is planned at the BASF Schwarzheide site.

The Federal Research Minister Prof. Dr. Annette Schavan and CDU General Secretary Hermann Gröhe MP visited the recently opened Application Center for Innovative Polymer Technologies at Fraunhofer IAP. The visitors were impressed by the innovative technologies, research topics of glowing ink for organic LEDs (OLEDs), polymer-based implants or high-performance bioplastics, and the Application Center's potential.

The Fraunhofer Technology Platform Microencapsulation proves to be a successful concept, also in the fourth year. Primarily, the information platform focuses and communicates the available knowledge on the subject of micro-encapsulation and opens up new ideas for using them.

On June 12, 2012, Fraunhofer IAP inaugurated the "Application Ccenter for Innovative Polymer Technologies" and celebrated its 20th anniversary. Above all, new materials and technologies will be transferred to from laboratory to the near-industrial scale in the expansion building.

On June 12, 2012, the Fraunhofer IAP inaugurates the "Application Ccenter for Innovative Polymer Technologies". At the same time, the Institute celebrates its 20th anniversary. Numerous guests from politics, industry and research are expected, including Brandenburg's Science Minister Prof. Sabine Kunst and Prof. Ulrich Buller, member of the Fraunhofer Executive Board.

Anselme Payen Award of the American Chemical Society, Cellulose and Renewable Materials Division, is given annually to honor and encourage outstanding professional contributions to the science and chemical technology of cellulose and its allied products. It is the most prestigious and internationally recognized award in the field of cellulose research.