Projects

Blockchain & Application

ForestGuard

The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV) supports the pilot project »ForestGuard«. In collaboration with the REWE Group, Schirmer Kaffee GmbH, and other partners, the Fraunhofer IML is developing an open-source solution for the traceability of deforestation-free supply chains.

 

 

🗣 Roman Koller, M.Sc.

✆ +49 (0) 231 9743 390

✉ roman.koller@iml.fraunhofer.de

Blockchain for Agriculture & Food Systems

In collaboration with stakeholders from the agriculture and food domain, a strategic research agenda for implementing blockchain technology is being developed at the European level. This initiative aims to shed light on the fragmented understanding of the potential uses of blockchain and jointly explores and demonstrates the benefits and possibilities of the technology through dialogue with stakeholders. Within the project, the Fraunhofer IML focuses on climate change and agriculture by highlighting the contribution that blockchain can make to shape the sustainable food chains of the future.

🗣 Thuy Tien Nguyen Thi, M.Sc.

thuy.tien.nguyen.thi@iml.fraunhofer.de

Blockchain for Customs & Foreign Trade

To ensure efficient customs processing in the highly regulated area of foreign trade, trustworthy data is essential. In the BORDER project, customs and logistics processes are not only mapped, but customs-related data is also stored and distributed digitally and tamper-proof using blockchain-techhology. The Goods Passport ID project deals with key information that is regularly required by authorities. This leads to a blockchain-based “passport” for the flow of goods. These and other subject-related open-source developments are jointly tested and implemented via the Open Logistics Foundation.

 

🗣 Roman Koller, M.Sc.

✆ +49 (0) 231 9743 390

✉ roman.koller@iml.fraunhofer.de

Blockchain goes Open Source

The project, funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection, and Energy of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), aims to establish a European Blockchain Institute in NRW (Blockchain Europe). The goal is to develop open-source solutions, e.g.,  software, hardware, and business models related to blockchain and smart contracts. The research focuses on open and holistic solutions that can be used by all market participants in order to connect whole supply chains in a digital and seamless manner. 

 

🗣 Dr.-Ing. Maximilian Austerjost

✆ +49 (0) 231 9743 331

✉ maximilian.austerjost@iml.fraunhofer.de

Collaboration in Supplier Networks

The blockchain-based collaboration platform aims to improve the exchange of documents and order priorities in the supply chain. The platform enables capturing and overseeing all manufacturing and subcontractor orders, thereby reducing coordination efforts. Payroll service providers were involved in the development process as they are an integral part of the supply chain. The platform serves as an information source for all participants, making the entire process more efficient.

 

🗣 Dr. Axel T. Schulte

 +49 231 9743-298

 axel.t.schulte@iml.fraunhofer.de 

Legally compliant Industry 4.0

Machines are capable to communicate with each other and make autonomous decisions. However, this new dimension of autonomy raises highly complex legal questions. Therefore, the pilot project "Industrie 4.0 Recht-Testbed" (Law Testbed) is being developed as a digital sandbox for automated business processes. The Law Testbed aims to provide policymakers and companies with recommendations for new legal standards.

 

🗣 Dipl.-Inf. Timucin Korkmaz

+49(0)231 9743-304

 timucin.korkmaz@iml.fraunhofer.de

 

Financial Supply Chain Management

»Smart« Value Networks

The goal of the "Safe Financial Big Data Cluster" project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) is to develop a data space for secure exchange of financial data while preserving data owners' sovereignty. The sub-project "Stable Supply Chain Finance," led by Fraunhofer IML, explores new data-driven approaches for highly efficient financial transactions and resilient financing for supply chains and complex value networks

 

🗣 Gerhard Schipp

 +49(0)231 9743-364

 gerhard.schipp@iml.fraunhofer.de

 

 

Trade Finance Innovations Lab

In late 2018, Commerzbank established an innovation lab at the Fraunhofer IML. The "Commerzbank Trade Finance Innovations Lab" aims to develop and prepare market-ready payment and financing solutions for trade finance based on emerging technologies such as distributed ledger technology, smart contracts, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

 

🗣 Dr. Axel T. Schulte

 +49 231 9743-298

 axel.t.schulte@iml.fraunhofer.de 

 

Craft & Digitalization

Innovations for Crafts

The goal of the MINERVA project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), is to advance the development and implementation of tailored, innovative digital technologies (chatbots, AR) in the crafts sector. This enables craft businesses to offer novel services. With the direct involvement of craft businesses, tailor-made solutions "by crafts for crafts" are developed and transferred into practical use. This provides long-term support to the job market in the German crafts sector and creates new attractive job opportunities.

 

🗣 Dipl.-Logist. Michael Lücke

✆ +49(0)231 9743-337

 michael.luecke@iml.fraunhofer.de

Order Processing in Crafts using a Digital Platform

The focus of the project is on the Athene service platform, which enables the digitization of order processing on the one hand and networking with customers and trade partners on the other. The BMBF-funded Athene project was succeeded by "Minerva," which explores the opportunities of AI and augmented reality in the crafts sector.

 

🗣 Dipl.-Logist. Michael Lücke

 +49(0)231 9743-337

 michael.luecke@iml.fraunhofer.de