News from the Institute

The two founding shareholders of E-Vita GmbH, Ceravis AG and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft e. V., announce that Ceravis has acquired all Fraunhofer shares in E-Vita with effect from June 30, 2023.

E-Vita GmbH was founded in 2021 by Ceravis and Fraunhofer as a joint venture to make the technology of chemical-free, sustainable treatment of seeds using electrons, which is already established in large-scale plants, economically viable for smaller seed quantities. The aim of the treatment is to eliminate bacteria, viruses and fungi on the surface of grains and other biological bulk goods.

Due to a strategic realignment of the business model by the management of E-Vita and the main shareholder Ceravis in the second half of 2022, the investment motive for Fraunhofer no longer applied, whereupon the shareholders of E-Vita mutually agreed to transfer the Fraunhofer shares to Ceravis and to terminate all contracts in connection with the originally planned development of the small-scale plants.

Ceravis, Fraunhofer and E-Vita will continue to cooperate in the field of electron treatment of seeds in the future.

DWith its electron beam and plasma technologies, the Fraunhofer FEP has a diverse toolbox for a very broad application portfolio, which has also included medical applications for around 20 years.

In addition to the effect of thin films, for example for bio-compatible or antimicrobial surfaces, accelerated electrons in particular provide unique possibilities for more effective vaccine production, gentle tissue preparation, hygienization and sterilization of medical products and hormetic stimulation of microorganisms for microbiological processes. In 2017, a separate "Medical and Biotechnological Applications" department was formed from the relevant working group to address these issues. Based on recommendations in the 2022/23 strategy process, to make better use of technological synergies and to stabilize this promising field of work, the activities of the 2023 division were reassigned to the working groups of the Electron Beam division.

In addition, a Biomedical Laboratory Unit is now available as an independent cross-sectional group to serve internal and external cell and microbiological as well as chemical analysis orders.

In July 2023, the Fraunhofer FEP put a newly constructed research research building into operation. This is a central component of the RESET (RESource-saving Energy Technologies) research campus between Bodenbacher Straße and Winterbergstraße. With this building, a flexible, expandable and sustainable building ensemble has been created.

This building is used for scientific operations in the clean room, biomedical laboratory area, the radiation protection area and the electron beam technology center and creates excellent working conditions for 35 people.

The Fraunhofer FEP is a leader within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in the use of energy management systems and their practical application in operations. The technical equipment of the building was therefore designed with a focus on the resource-saving provision and use of all types of energy.

Examples include:

• Extraction of cooling energy from groundwater
• Waste heat from the test facilities is used to heat the
• building (directly or by means of a heat pump)
• Air conditioning of the laboratories / clean room by
• means of adiabatic exhaust air humidification
• All lighting is LED
• Regulation / control of the technology using a weather forecast tool
• In-house power generation with PV system

After 12 years as Head of Administration at Fraunhofer FEP, Veit Mittag handed over the baton to Almar Schulz-Coppi in September 2023.

From January 1, 2012, Veit Mittag headed the administration with its associated units such as Human Resources, Information Technology, Controlling, Purchasing and Export, Technology and Quality Management as well as Team Assistance.

During his time, he oversaw the integration of the Fraunhofer COMEDD facility and led the institute through many ups and downs on the administrative side. Under his leadership, the Fraunhofer FEP expanded its space with the new buildings at Bodenbacher Straße 31 and, together with the institute management and his team, developed forward-looking

measures to cope with difficult economic times, during the pandemic or the energy crisis.

By March 2024, the administrative management will be handed over to Mr. Almar Schulz-Coppi. Mr. Schulz-Coppi

brings a wealth of experience from the industry and looks forward to the challenges and tasks ahead with confidence and enthusiasm.

We would like to thank Mr. Veit Mittag for his achievements and his work at Fraunhofer FEP. We wish Mr. Schulz-Coppi every success in his new position.