Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKS

Annual report

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Annual magazine

In its latest printed Safe Intelligence Magazine, the Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKS introduces itself.

Annual magazine 2019/2020 [ PDF 12.1 MB ]

Annual reports

Read the last annual report of the Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKS and the reports of the former Fraunhofer ESK.

Publications of the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft

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Publications

Safe Intelligence Online Magazine

These are our latest articles:

Safe Intelligence Day 2026 / 7.1.2026

How AI and Safety Balance Each Other in Automation

On February 5, 2026, the next Safe Intelligence Day will take place at Fraunhofer IKS. The focus of the showcases, presentations, and discussions will be generative AI in automation. Three aspects play an essential role: generative AI in the safety engineering process, as a basis for troubleshooting assistance in production, and applied to code generation in manufacturing.

Safe Intelligence Day 2026

Hybrid Quantum Algorithms / 17.12.2025

Do Classical Optimization Algorithms Perform Better with “Quantum Maps”?

A master's thesis created at Fraunhofer IKS and the Technical University of Munich has been honored with the Quantum Future Award from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.

Hybrid Quantum Algorithms

Quantum Computing / 3.12.2025

Are quantum solutions realistic in production?

Quantum machine learning (QML) offers a promising pathway for early adoption in industrial settings. For QML solutions to be effectively implemented in production, dedicated access to quantum hardware is essential. The quantum hardware ecosystem is rapidly evolving, with most of the infrastructure hosted by cloud providers. However, this reliance on cloud services presents challenges, including latency, security concerns, and high costs which can impede real-time applications. Is there a way to circumvent these limitations?

Quantum solutions

Portrait Johannes Karg / 7.10.2025

»It´s important that AI decisions are transparent«

Artificial Intelligence fascinated the medicine graduate during his studies. This fascination remained even after he graduated: today, Dr. Johannes Karg conducts research at the Fraunhofer IKS on a wide range of applications for AI in medicine.

Portrait Johannes Karg

Interview with Mario Trapp / 21.11.2025

„We wanted to open up a kind of window into our research engine room“

Fraunhofer IKS has introduced its Playground. This platform is especially designed for companies to explore the institute's offerings. In an interview, Institute Director Prof. Dr. Mario Trapp discusses the concept behind the Fraunhofer IKS Playground.

Interview with Mario Trapp

Artificial Intelligence / 13.11.2025

Quantum computing and AI

There is great hope: even if quantum computers initially “merely” improve the simulations of quantum mechanical processes, they could, among other things, help to train AI systems more efficiently in the future. The first small quantum computers are already commercially available. But what potential do they actually have today?

Quantum computing and AI

Safety Engineering / 6.11.2025

Generative AI as a gap filler

Artificial intelligence opens up new economic opportunities for companies. However, the integration of AI raises significant safety concerns in safety-critical systems. This results in a gap between economic potential and safety, the economic safety gap. But generative artificial intelligence (Generative AI, GenAI) can help close it.

Safety Engineering

Safe Intelligence
online magazine

Would you like to know more about the research of Fraunhofer IKS? Then take a look at our Safe Intelligence online magazine. Here you can find out more about our research projects and our employees.

To our Online Magazine

We are pleased to announce that we will no longer be publishing traditional annual reports. Instead, we invite you to take a look at our Safe Intelligence Online Magazine. Here, you will find exciting insights into our current projects, innovative approaches, and the latest developments within our company.