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To date, little is known about what happens to microplastic in the sea. The MICRO-FATE project is expected to bring about a change to this situation. The international team of researchers intends to find out where microplastic accumulate in the ocean, how it is degraded and the effects it has on the environment. A five-week expedition on the research vessel SONNE across the Pacific Ocean from Vancouver to Singapore marks the start of the project. Their most important objective is to take and conserve samples for upcoming laboratory analysis in addition to performing initial experiments. Fraunhofer IKTS investigates on bord the changing properties of plastic particles due to weathering and fragmentation.

The DKG is the ceramic society with the largest number of members in Europe and one of the oldest professional associations in the world. For more than 100 years, the DKG has been the forum for all technical and scientific questions concerning ceramics. The society maintains a unique network of applicators, manufacturing industry, research, science, and teaching. The main topics of the DKG are research and development, education and training, organization and execution of events as well as support of ceramic art and culture.

The project network H2-Well for the development of a model region to implement hydrogen technologies on site will be funded over the next five years with approx. 15 million euros from funds of the Federal Research Ministry.

Eight IKTS scientists travelled through Asia with the aim of raising the Institute's profile and initiating projects with local industrial companies and research institutions. In addition to visiting local SMEs and agreeing on industrial cooperation projects, the institute organized workshops in cooperation with local academic and industrial network partners. Activities focused on topics such as process monitoring, condition monitoring, material diagnostics, additive manufacturing, nanotechnology, bio-sensors, implants and implant materials. The journey was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany (BMBF).

IKTS Institute Director Prof. Dr. Alexander Michaelis and two Indian technology companies signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" (MoU) during a delegation trip of the Thuringian Ministry of Economics, Science and the Digital Society to India.

The use of combined heat and power (CHP) units has been promoted for decades because they generate both electricity and heat on site as required and can therefore make optimum use of the energy content of fuels. As with all combustion processes, however, this produces CO2, which contributes to global warming.

On November 14, 2018, the kick-off meeting for a German-Korean ZIM project took place in Hanover. Under the name "ImplantHoloCut", a test method for the immunobiological assessment of implant materials is to be developed over the next three years.

Bodo Ramelow, Thuringia’s Minister President was briefed on current research projects.

On his summer tour through „digital Thuringia“ Wolfgang Tiefensee, Thuringian minister for economy, science, and digital society, visited the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS.

From March 7–9, 2017, RSHM experts from Thailand, ASEAN and European countries exchanged knowledge on recent developments in RSHM technologies in a training workshop, organized by Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research.