Fraunhofer in Moscow

Russian scientists and companies have been cooperating closely with Fraunhofer researchers over many years. Now an offical Fraunhofer Representative Office openes its doors in Moscow. Its task is to promote technology transfer and expand strategic partnerships.

"Europe is converging: an increasing number of SMEs are extending their business into the international arena. As a research partner focusing on practical applications, we help support their operations in the global marketplace, says Professor Hans-Jörg Bullinger, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. We have reinforced our European activities over the past few years to offer our customers professional advice. Back in 2001, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft set up a Representative Office in Brussels. A second has now been opened in Moscow.

Russia is not only the largest country in Europe and our neighbor but also a strategically very important partner, explains Bullinger. In his opinion, two factors encourage particularly close cooperation: Russia is a huge market with enormous growth potential and a huge demand for technological development. This is where the institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, with their focused expertise in quickly turning new scientific findings into successful products and services, can play a major role. At the same time, Russia offers excellent research facilities and top-class scientists. With them the researchers from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft want to cooperate more closely in the future. We want the Office to act as a bridge between the Fraunhofer Institutes and the Russian scientific and industrial communities. We hope that this will both facilitate and strengthen cooperation, explains Bullinger.

In fact, Fraunhofer researchers already have a long tradition of cooperation with Russian scientists and engineers. At the symposium coinciding with the opening of the Fraunhofer Representative Office Moscow the directors of seven Fraunhofer Institutes presented the most successful projects jointly with their Russian partners:

Guaranteed quality for aircraft parts
Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF and the Russian Institute of Aviation Systems along with the Moscow State Automobile & Road Technical University have set up a Joint-Lab for developing measurement systems. The aim is to develop practical solutions over the next few years.

The researchers are currently developing a system to mark and identify aircraft spare parts whose origin and condition must be documented using a tamper-proof method. The information will be stored on radio-frequency tags, the so called RFID transponders. The new system provides an opportunity to improve spare-parts logistics worldwide. The Joint-Lab will also develop measurement systems that are ideal for quality control, monitoring traffic flows or simulating product and process development.

Quality checks for railway wheel sets
Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Non-Destructive Testing IZFP in Saarbrücken and the Fraunhofer Technology Development Group TEG in Stuttgart have developed the worlds most sophisticated ultrasound inspection unit for the steel producer, Nizhny Tagil Metal Combine. The project involved several industry partners was coordinated by the IZFP. In the test unit ultrasound is used to reveal flaws inside the wheels. "The inspection unit can even detect very small inhomogenities in accordance with Russian standard RD 32.144-2000 and European standard EN13262. It provides a reliable set of data to classify a finished wheel. This classification determines whether a wheel can be used on high-speed trains or whether its quality is suitable for freight traffic," reports Professor Michael Kröning, director of the IZFP in Saarbrücken. The first wheel inspection unit is already in use, a second one is currently being installed.

Telecommunications circuits
The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen also has close ties with Russia. In collaboration with scientists at St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University (SPBSTU), Fraunhofer researchers develop novel integrated circuits that can be used in communications systems and metrology. The theoretical frameworks are provided mainly by the St. Petersburg partners and then implemented at the IIS by visiting scientists and students working under the guidance of Fraunhofer scientists. The project thus ombines basic research, applications and education.

Competitive advantages from cooperation
The Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research, Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut WKI also has a lot of experience: We are currently cooperating with ten major manufacturers of wood products for the construction industry, reports Harald Schwab. Since we are an EU-approved center for certification of building products, we can explain to our partners what requirements they need to meet to gain a foothold in the European market. On request, we will also conduct the necessary checks on site the EU imposes precise specifications regarding the quality of products. Russian companies that are certified can export their products to all EU member states without any additional checks.

Joint research - learning from each other
Many Fraunhofer Institutes maintain regular contact with Russian research groups. "Combining German and Russian engineering education is very important to us," says Professor Heinz Gerhäuser, director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen. Fraunhofer IIS and Vladimir State University have jointly developed a program that allows Russian students to do internships in Germany and incorporate the results into the dissertation for their Russian university degree.

The new office will pull the strings
The various cooperative ventures will be followed and coordinated in future by the new Fraunhofer Representative Office in Moscow. By doing so we're putting in place what's needed to optimize workflows and facilitate cooperation, is how Bullinger sums it up. For us though, the most important thing is that the office in the Russisch-Deutsches-Haus becomes a venue for meetings and exchanging ideas in related disciplines a meeting point for partners from science and industry to bolster our mutual respect and as the basis for our common future.

The initiative The topics The regions The networks The service press releases Order Service newsletter subscription news announcements patents Events Event Review ICT Cluster Monitor	News
	Fraunhofer in Moscow Russian scientists and companies have been cooperating closely with Fraunhofer researchers over many years. Now an offical Fraunhofer Representative Office openes its doors in Moscow. Its task is to promote technology transfer and expand strategic partnerships. "Europe is converging: an increasing number of SMEs are extending their business into the international arena. As a research partner focusing on practical applications, we help support their operations in the global marketplace, says Professor Hans-Jörg Bullinger, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. We have reinforced our European activities over the past few years to offer our customers professional advice. Back in 2001, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft set up a Representative Office in Brussels. A second has now been opened in Moscow. Russia is not only the largest country in Europe and our neighbor but also a strategically very important partner, explains Bullinger. In his opinion, two factors encourage particularly close cooperation: Russia is a huge market with enormous growth potential and a huge demand for technological development. This is where the institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, with their focused expertise in quickly turning new scientific findings into successful products and services, can play a major role. At the same time, Russia offers excellent research facilities and top-class scientists. With them the researchers from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft want to cooperate more closely in the future. We want the Office to act as a bridge between the Fraunhofer Institutes and the Russian scientific and industrial communities. We hope that this will both facilitate and strengthen cooperation, explains Bullinger. In fact, Fraunhofer researchers already have a long tradition of cooperation with Russian scientists and engineers. At the symposium coinciding with the opening of the Fraunhofer Representative Office Moscow the directors of seven Fraunhofer Institutes presented the most successful projects jointly with their Russian partners: Guaranteed quality for aircraft parts Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF and the Russian Institute of Aviation Systems along with the Moscow State Automobile & Road Technical University have set up a Joint-Lab for developing measurement systems. The aim is to develop practical solutions over the next few years. The researchers are currently developing a system to mark and identify aircraft spare parts whose origin and condition must be documented using a tamper-proof method. The information will be stored on radio-frequency tags, the so called RFID transponders. The new system provides an opportunity to improve spare-parts logistics worldwide. The Joint-Lab will also develop measurement systems that are ideal for quality control, monitoring traffic flows or simulating product and process development. Quality checks for railway wheel sets Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Non-Destructive Testing IZFP in Saarbrücken and the Fraunhofer Technology Development Group TEG in Stuttgart have developed the worlds most sophisticated ultrasound inspection unit for the steel producer, Nizhny Tagil Metal Combine. The project involved several industry partners was coordinated by the IZFP. In the test unit ultrasound is used to reveal flaws inside the wheels. "The inspection unit can even detect very small inhomogenities in accordance with Russian standard RD 32.144-2000 and European standard EN13262. It provides a reliable set of data to classify a finished wheel. This classification determines whether a wheel can be used on high-speed trains or whether its quality is suitable for freight traffic," reports Professor Michael Kröning, director of the IZFP in Saarbrücken. The first wheel inspection unit is already in use, a second one is currently being installed. Telecommunications circuits The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen also has close ties with Russia. In collaboration with scientists at St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University (SPBSTU), Fraunhofer researchers develop novel integrated circuits that can be used in communications systems and metrology. The theoretical frameworks are provided mainly by the St. Petersburg partners and then implemented at the IIS by visiting scientists and students working under the guidance of Fraunhofer scientists. The project thus ombines basic research, applications and education. Competitive advantages from cooperation The Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research, Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut WKI also has a lot of experience: We are currently cooperating with ten major manufacturers of wood products for the construction industry, reports Harald Schwab. Since we are an EU-approved center for certification of building products, we can explain to our partners what requirements they need to meet to gain a foothold in the European market. On request, we will also conduct the necessary checks on site the EU imposes precise specifications regarding the quality of products. Russian companies that are certified can export their products to all EU member states without any additional checks. Joint research - learning from each other Many Fraunhofer Institutes maintain regular contact with Russian research groups. "Combining German and Russian engineering education is very important to us," says Professor Heinz Gerhäuser, director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen. Fraunhofer IIS and Vladimir State University have jointly developed a program that allows Russian students to do internships in Germany and incorporate the results into the dissertation for their Russian university degree. The new office will pull the strings The various cooperative ventures will be followed and coordinated in future by the new Fraunhofer Representative Office in Moscow. By doing so we're putting in place what's needed to optimize workflows and facilitate cooperation, is how Bullinger sums it up. For us though, the most important thing is that the office in the Russisch-Deutsches-Haus becomes a venue for meetings and exchanging ideas in related disciplines a meeting point for partners from science and industry to bolster our mutual respect and as the basis for our common future.	Print page Back