Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics celebrating tenth anniversary

"The Fraunhofer CML's diverse research activities render it an important partner and initiator for the maritime industry in Hamburg. Environment-friendly and highly innovative concepts for a modern, efficient port are developed here. We want to strengthen the forward-looking transfer of knowledge by expanding the Fraunhofer CML," said Katharina Fegebank, Senator for Science, Research and Equality. Prof. Raoul Klingner, Director of Research at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, remarked: "Innovation and the rapid transfer of new technologies from research to application are now more important than ever before." Founded in 2010 at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), six Fraunhofer institutes can now be found across the city. A new building is being constructed in Harburg's inland port at a cost of EUR 20 million with construction work due for completion in 2021.

CML is now enhancing its expertise in promising fields of innovation e.g. resource-saving shipping, emission-free cargo handling in ports, innovative concepts for shipbuilding and intelligent logistics processes as part of the senate’s Fraunhofer strategy. Hopes are now high that CML will ultimately become an independent Fraunhofer Institute that benefits the  maritime sector and science in Hamburg.

The "Smart Ocean" funding programme develops solutions for improved shipping and maritime logistics and focuses on ecological aspects e.g. alternative drive systems and ship technologies (Green Shipping) simultaneously. Apart from creating new positions for scientists at CML, several potential collaborations with other scientific institutions and within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are emerging as well. This should secure jobs in the maritime industry and ensure the training of urgently-needed scientists and technicians.

Hamburg is also home to the IME Screening Port of the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (Aachen), the Center for Applied Nanotechnology (CAN) at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP (Potsdam), the Application Center for Integrated Local Energy Systems for Sector Coupling (ILES) and the Large Bearing Laboratory (LBL) of the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems (IWES) (Bremerhaven). The independent Fraunhofer Institute for Additive Production Technologies (IAPT) has been located in Hamburg since 2018.
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