Fraunhofer USAApplied research remains the core of our mission as we provide our customers with the latest in innovations and technology transfer solutions. Our research portfolio and programs form the core focus of our available competences. By addressing market needs that will shape our future, our pre-competitive research specifically targets projects that have high commercial potential, thereby enhancing our impact on society and across multiple sectors. Contact us today and review our selected projects below, highlighting our ability to bring technology to market, work with our university and government partners, and further transatlantic research collaboration. Our three research centers have decades of research expertise and are ready to solve your toughest challenges. At the Center for Manufacturing Innovation, Center Mid-Atlantic, and Center Midwest, our customers quickly discover that #WeKnowHow.
Applied Research
Bringing Technology to Market
Monitoring Blood Coagulation Using Acoustic Levitation for Levisonics
Monitoring blood coagulation is critical for neonatal and pediatric care, surgical patients, and for those on blood thinning medications. Current methods for measuring coagulation rates require 10 mL venipunctures of blood and expensive laboratory-based tests. These large blood volumes are a significant loss for sick patients and are almost impossible for children and infants to provide. Current blood coagulation tests are artificially triggered by contact with the instrument. To solve this problem, Levisonics, with NSF support, has developed a novel, non-contact blood coagulation test that uses acoustic force to levitate blood drops. To help bring the test to market, Fraunhofer USA CMI helped develop key components and automate drop deployment.
Reducing Chemical Waste and Manufacturing Costs for Integrated Micro-Chromatography Systems, Inc.
The South Carolina Fraunhofer USA Alliance (SCFUSA) is a collaborative effort between the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (SC Competes), the South Carolina Department of Commerce, and the Fraunhofer USA network. The alliance was created toadvance applied research across the state of South Carolina with the Fraunhofer USA network and South Carolina research institutions. In 2022 the South Carolina Fraunhofer USA Alliance Review Board co-funded an applied research project, led by Clemson University and Fraunhofer USA, focused on providing a key deliverable – to develop Integrated Micro-Chromatography Systems, Inc., (IMCS), an improved bacterial host and new intellectual property to further secure the company’s long-term operations.
University and Government Collaboration
Developing Filters with High Selectivity for Oil and Water Separation with Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization
Industry production consumes vast amounts of water while simultaneously generating colossal volumes of wastewater laden with various pollutants, raising alarming environmental concerns. Among these contaminants, oily wastewater stands out as a significant contributor. For example, the mining industry produces 140,000 L of oil-contaminated water each day. Additionally, oil leaks and spills during marine transportation and oil production further exacerbate contamination in lakes, rivers, and natural resources. It’s undeniable that recycling and purifying wastewater can have profound global benefits. To address these pressing issues, a diverse range of methods have been developed to remove the oily contamination from water.
Simulated Finish Panel Blocks for Low-Cost Residential Retrofits for New York and the U S Dept of Energy
Tens of Millions of U.S. homes have inadequate wall insulation, reducing comfort and increasing energy consumption. The current state-of-the-art affordable retrofit insulation can achieve R-10 insulation using the “drill-and-fill” cellulose wall cavity technique. There is a strong market for affordable retrofit insulation technique that can achieve much higher R-values.
Transatlantic Collaboration
Growing the EV Market in South Carolina with Soteria
In 2022 the South Carolina Fraunhofer USA Alliance Review Board co-funded an applied research project (led by the University of South Carolina and supported by Fraunhofer USA) focused on advancing Greenville-based Soteria Battery Innovation Group’s (BIG) effort to improve separator compatibility within Lithium (Li) metal batteries.
Revolutionizing Sustainability with a Data-Driven Approach with Fraunhofer IPT
In today’s competitive landscape, sustainability has become an increasingly important component for companies of all sizes. Beyond global climate commitments like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, financial institutions, stock exchanges, and the media are placing growing emphasis on sustainability. It encompasses ecological, economic, and social dimensions, and for manufacturing companies, it hinges on reducing energy consumption, CO2 emissions, resource use, and toxic material substitution.