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From 18 to 20 March 2026, the Fraunhofer WKI will be presenting the first interim results of the “LuminousNetworks” project at the Wissenschaftsschaufenster Braunschweig (Science Showcase Braunschweig, located at Waisenhausdamm 8). “LuminousNetworks” focuses the spotlight on fungal mycelium as a material. As a sustainable and functional resource, mycelium has already become a game-changer in the development of biomaterials. Through the works of artist Malte Taffner, who is involved in the project, the fungi now shine in a completely new kind of light.

Professor Tunga Salthammer from Fraunhofer WKI and Professor Lidia Morawska from Queensland University of Technology recently published an article in the journal WIREs Climate Change, in which they examine an important question: What does climate change mean for indoor air quality, i.e., in homes, offices, schools and other buildings?

Sustainability is an aspect that more and more consumers pay close attention to when buying furniture. As part of their research project titled LinumTube, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research, Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut, WKI have created modern seating furniture that is easy to disassemble, adapt and transport, and is also highly recyclable. The modular systems are made of only two materials: fabric produced from natural fibers and steel tubes.

Fall is the peak season for mushroom fans, as the moister conditions and falling temperatures are ideal for promoting the growth of fungi. However, when Dr. Henrik-Alexander Christ and Dr. Steffen Sydow from the Fraunhofer WKI set out in search of fungi, they are not only interested in the fruiting body: For the researchers, the thread-like network of hyphae, the so-called mycelium, is particularly exciting. It is found under the soil and its abilities can be exploited for the production of various materials. The two researchers are investigating the potential of mycelium-based materials for use in, for example, the construction industry.

The search for sustainable materials is gaining increasingly in importance – including in the construction and furniture industries. In order to meet this demand, researchers at the Fraunhofer WKI are developing bio-based adhesives on the basis of renewable raw materials and biogenic residues. In the “LowEPanel” research project, they are testing formaldehyde-free adhesives made from lignin and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) for the production of sustainable particle boards using regional wood residues. This enables them to develop high-quality bio-based materials, thereby optimizing the value chain. Bio-based adhesives are a key technology for the bonding of materials and the conservation of finite resources, and represent a promising growth market. As a result of the research being conducted at the Fraunhofer WKI, particle boards are becoming more ecological and easier to recycle.

Right now, the only factor determining when a road needs resurfacing is the condition of the road surface itself. However, the state of the asphalt layer beneath it is also an important marker that has not been adequately taken into account until now. To assess it, only indirect measurement methods are available, which either measure only the surface or damage the road by drilling. A new monitoring system from Fraunhofer researchers and partners detects damage early on and continuously monitors the condition of the underlying asphalt layer, comprehensively and without causing any damage. The centerpiece of the new solution is a fabric of sensors inside the asphalt. AI algorithms to analyze the data are also part of the system. Going forward, the researchers hope the interaction between the sensors and AI will help assess the condition of road structures in real time.

Wood is constantly gaining in importance as a natural and sustainable construction material for buildings. As yet, however, no satisfactory fire-protection solution exists for wood in exterior applications. A lack of flame retardancy is an exclusion criterion for wooden components in tall or large-scale buildings, unless an expensive and time-consuming approval is applied for in individual cases. In collaboration with project partner German Textile Research Center North-West (DTNW), researchers at the Fraunhofer WKI have developed an environmentally-friendly flame-retardant coating for wood surfaces which are exposed to the elements.

To protect the environment, especially the ocean, many single-use plastic products are banned in the EU. But single-use products made from unmodified natural polymers are allowed. With this in mind, researchers at the Fraunhofer WKI have teamed up with partners to develop compostable single-use tableware based on local agricultural residue from sugar production.

Whether in buildings or vehicles, many load-bearing components can now be made from wood, in particular from bonded wood-based materials and hybrid materials. Their aging behavior, however, has not yet been sufficiently researched. Common methods for testing the durability in outdoor areas are either time-consuming or, as a result of their requirements, not relevant in practice. Both can lead to considerable cost increases for manufacturers and customers. In collaboration with the Department of Separating and Joining Manufacturing Processes (TFF) at the University of Kassel, researchers at the Fraunhofer WKI have therefore developed a realistic rapid-aging procedure that can be used, in particular, by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

At LIGNA 2025, researchers from the Fraunhofer WKI will be presenting a new type of curtain-wall element as a sustainable solution for the renovation and modernization of buildings. Not only durable raw materials such as robinia wood are thereby utilized: Less durable wood species such as spruce, poplar and kiri have also been optimized using bio-based coatings. As a result, the entire application spectrum of wood-based materials for building façades is thereby showcased. The exhibit can be seen at LIGNA 2025, Hall 26, Stand B78 from the 26^th to the 30^th of May 2025 in Hanover.

At LIGNA 2025, the Fraunhofer WKI and the Institute of Building Construction and Timber Structures from the Technische Universität Braunschweig will be presenting groundbreaking approaches for a resource-conserving and climate-friendly construction industry. The trade-fair presentation in Hall 11, Stand F85, will showcase activities in research and teaching revolving around the topic of building with wood and other renewable raw materials: from natural-fiber insulation materials, through timber-concrete composite systems, and on to recycling management.

At LIGNA 2025, researchers from the Fraunhofer WKI will be demonstrating that bio-based flame-retardant coatings can provide durable fire protection for wooden furniture. A honeycomb-shaped shelf unit with the novel flame-retardant coating, as well as other exhibits, can be seen at LIGNA 2025, Hall 26, Stand B78 from the 26^th to the 30^th of May 2025 in Hanover.

The Fraunhofer WKI is developing innovative solutions for increasing recyclability in the wind-energy sector. By taking the recyclability of rotor blades into account during their construction process, the researchers are ensuring sustainability in the material cycle. Through their expertise in the bonding of wood and hybrid components, researchers at the Fraunhofer WKI have furthermore enabled the construction of what is currently the tallest wooden tower for commercial wind turbines. The Fraunhofer WKI will be showcasing its expertise at LIGNA 2025, Hall 26, Stand B78, with an exhibit featuring the wooden wind-turbine tower, a rotor blade, and recycled products made from rotor blades.

In collaboration with project partners, the Fraunhofer WKI will be presenting heatable, recyclable and optionally illuminable lightweight-construction materials on the joint stand “Schaufenster Bioökonomie” (Bioeconomy Showcase) hosted by Project Management Jülich (PtJ) and the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e. V. (FNR). On the joint stand, research results will be presented from current bioeconomy projects funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). In the future, this innovative material could be utilized not only in vehicles but also in tiny houses, for example.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer WKI have developed a bio-based, three-dimensional sandwich structure specifically for lightweight-construction applications in the mobility sector, which is suitable for incorporation into the shell of a caravan. The scientists increased the proportion of renewable raw materials and, at the same time, avoided the utilization of dissimilar materials in order to improve recyclability within the closed loop. The sandwich component can be seen on the Fraunhofer joint stand at the Hannover Messe from 31st March to 4th April 2025.

At BAU 2025 in Munich, researchers from the Fraunhofer WKI will be presenting a building construction made from high-quality pine wood components, a wooden beam comprised of reclaimed waste wood, and with insulation materials made from renewable raw materials as well as insulation materials featuring fungal mycelium as an innovative binding agent. With this model, the researchers are demonstrating resource-conserving innovations for building using recycled materials such as waste wood or hemp hurds.

Building with wood provides an important contribution towards climate protection. By combining wood and concrete, the Fraunhofer WKI is significantly expanding the range of applications for timber constructions. By means of a novel bonding technology, an accelerated production of wood-concrete composite elements (WCC elements) has been made possible. The aim is to establish construction with WCC elements in multi-story buildings as a competitive alternative to pure precast reinforced concrete components.

At BAU 2025 in Munich, researchers from the Fraunhofer WKI will be presenting a project in which innovative aerogels are being developed from waste wood. These sustainable materials are being utilized by the researchers to develop, amongst other things, pollutant-adsorbing air filters and recyclable insulation materials.

The European Wood-based Panel Symposium took place in Hamburg from October 9 to 11, 2024, with around 375 guests from 31 countries taking part and making the event a great success. The Fraunhofer WKI and the European Panel Federation (EPF) organized the networking event for the 13^th time in cooperation with the International Association for Technical Issues Related to Wood (Internationaler Verein für Technische Holzfragen e. V. iVTH) and Hywax GmbH.

Andreas Göbert, Professor Philipp Eversmann and Professor Dr Julian Lienhard from the University of Kassel have been awarded the Wilhelm Klauditz Prize 2024 for their work “3DWoodWind Research Prototype - Modular Building System made of Wound Hollow Profiles”. The prize is awarded by the International Association for Technical Issues Related to Wood (Internationaler Verein für Technische Holzfragen e. V. iVTH) is awarding the prize for the 12^th time.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer WKI are developing bio-based adhesives on the basis of renewable raw materials and biogenic residues. Adhesives, with their versatile range of application possibilities, are a key technology in the joining of materials and, consequently, the conservation of finite resources. As a result of their broad spectrum of applications, adhesives are a growth market. The substitution of conventional adhesives with bio-based adhesives provides an important contribution towards the realization of a bio-based circular economy.

In collaboration with industrial partners, scientists at the Fraunhofer WKI have developed concepts for the material utilization of humins. Humins are dark, highly viscous compounds. They accrue as a by-product during the production of polyethylene furanoate (PEF), a new bio-based substitute for the bulk plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET). As a result of their complex chemical structure, humins are suitable for a wide range of applications, for example as binders. According to calculations, tens of thousands of tons of humins will accrue every year in the medium to long term, for which no applications currently exist.

The corona pandemic has shown just how important it is to protect people in indoor areas against infection through airborne pathogens. Mobile air purifiers can, in principle, contribute to this. Until now, there has been no uniform method for testing their effectiveness. Researchers at the Fraunhofer WKI have therefore developed a standardised testing method to close this gap.

Change in leadership of the Fraunhofer WKI: On the 1st of October 2024, Prof. Dr. Raoul Klingner assumed the acting director position of the institute. He holds a degree in Wood Science and Technology and an honorary professorship at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Technische Universität Braunschweig. He will complement the successful institute with his expertise and experience in strategic research management.

On 9^th October 2024, the European Wood-based Panel Symposium in Hamburg began with an evening event. The Fraunhofer WKI and the European Panel Federation (EPF) are organizing the networking event for the 13^th time in cooperation with the International Association for Technical Issues Related to Wood (iVTH). The worldwide largest event of this kind offers the around 370 participants from Germany and abroad the possibility, from 9^th to 11^th October 2024, to exchange ideas regarding the most important trends and challenges in the wood-based materials industry.

Autumn is here and with the strengthening winds, the yields generated by wind energy are also increasing. This environmentally-friendly and renewable form of energy generation creates jobs in Germany and promotes technological innovation. Wind energy reduces the dependence on fossil fuels and global supply chains. Researchers at the Fraunhofer WKI are developing solutions that facilitate the inspection of rotor blades. Completely new recycling processes – which are being developed at the Fraunhofer WKI – pursue the goal of achieving the best-possible material recycling. The work of the scientists contributes towards ensuring that, from the outset, wind turbines can be designed to be easier to recycle and can be manufactured from renewable raw materials. As a result, the key technology of the energy transition is becoming both more recyclable and more resource-efficient.

The architecture and chemistry of the bark of the Canary pine effectively protect the trees from forest fires. Taking nature as a model, researchers at the Fraunhofer WKI, in collaboration with partners, have developed bio-based coatings for wooden components for interior and exterior use. The fire-retardant coatings utilizing functionalized microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) are weather-resistant and expand the application possibilities for wood in building construction. The researchers have succeeded in developing a new approach in the production of durable, flame-retardant construction products based on renewable raw materials.

Prof. Lidia Morawska from the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Prof. Yuguo Li from the University of Hong Kong and Prof. Tunga Salthammer from the Fraunhofer WKI in Braunschweig address this question in the journal SCIENCE.

Within the framework of his summer tour, Lower Saxony’s Minister for Science and Culture, Falko Mohrs, visited the Fraunhofer institutes for Wood Research, Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut WKI and for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST in Braunschweig on the 8^th of July 2024.

The Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST) is committed to the future of wood research by, among other things, honouring the "Women Ambassadors Creating the Future of Wood Science". For 2024, Dr Juan Li, research associate at the Fraunhofer WKI, was accepted as one of the women in the "Women Ambassadors Creating the Future of Wood Science". The new ambassadors will be presented at the annual SWST International Convention in Portoroz, Slovenia, from 30 June to 5 July 2024. Dr Juan Li will be included in the travelling exhibition sponsored by SWST, which will pay tribute to the ambassadors over time.