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Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alice Kirchheim will bring her expertise in AI-based autonomous systems and AI-assisted planning to the leadership of the Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. Since 2024, she has headed the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML and held the Chair of Material Handling and Warehousing at TU Dortmund University. At the Lamarr Institute, she already serves as Area Chair for the Planning & Logistics research area.

Skill shortages, geopolitical uncertainties and global supply chain issues are forcing companies to become more efficient, resilient and flexible. Where traditional automation reaches its limits, humanoid robots are seen as a promising technology. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML have now investigated their potential for the logistics industry.

At the end of 2025, BEUMER Group entered into a strategic innovation partnership with Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML. The core of the collaboration is a three-year joint "Enterprise Lab" for the development of mobile robots. Through this cooperation, intralogistics specialist BEUMER aims to significantly advance its development projects in the field of mobile robotics and secure a technological lead in automated logistics solutions.

The new EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) is increasing the need for action among companies along the entire value chain. In the online seminar “Ready for PPWR? Packaging design for the whole value chain” on April 15, 2026, Fraunhofer CCPE, together with partners from research and industry, will present concrete solutions – from regulatory requirements and sustainable optimization to the use of recycled materials in food packaging.

Paper-based processes are still widespread in logistics – and this also applies to air cargo. To address this problem, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML are developing digital solutions: With the introduction of the data standard "ONE Record" by IATA, shipment information is transmitted in fully digital processes and can thus be transferred in real time.

Starting in January 2026, three Fraunhofer Clusters of Excellence will launch a joint project to support companies in implementing the EU requirements for digital product passports (DPPs), which will become mandatory in 2027. The project will focus on both technical and organizational areas of action for DPP data management.

In front of an audience of numerous high-ranking representatives from politics, industry, administration and the media, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML demonstrated the initial results of the “Digital Testbed Air Cargo” (DTAC) research project at Munich Airport on May 13 - a groundbreaking presentation of solutions that will make optimal use of the potential of digital technologies and actively shape the future of air cargo.

An end to paper-based freight documents, more digitalization in freight transport and logistics services and a uniform legal framework at EU level so that authorities can accept relevant freight transport information in electronic form: These are the three main objectives of the European Union's eFTI Regulation, which was adopted in 2020. “This will enable companies to share transport information not only with each other, but also with stakeholders in public authorities,” Jens Leveling gets to the heart of it. He is responsible for the eFTI project in the Silicon Economy's Electronic Transport Information community. “The eFTI regulation really is a major step forward for the digital transformation of freight transport in Europe. Its implementation will bring significant benefits to all parties involved.”

Not only climate change, but also the current worldwide crises and conflicts underline the necessity of concepts and solutions for the economical and efficient use of energy. Logistics has been a driver of innovations and models in the field of sustainability for many years. Currently, Lucas Schreiber, scientific employee at Fraunhofer IML, is working on a “Planning concept for an energy-efficient supply chain design” for his dissertation. This could solve many problems for industry.

Change at the top of the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML: As of April 1, Prof. Alice Kirchheim is taking over the Material Flow Systems department at Fraunhofer IML, along with the Chair of Material Handling and Warehousing at TU Dortmund University