Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) has launched a project to support the transition of the Central European region of Lusatia from a coal-dependent economy to a hub for sustainable energy and environmental innovation.
The AIS-Edge Node initiative (Adaptive Integrated Inline Sensors for Infrastructure in the Environmental and Hydrogen Economy) aims to harness advanced sensor technology and artificial intelligence to monitor soil and water quality, while ensuring safety in the emerging hydrogen sector. The effort forms part of a broader push to diversify Lusatia’s economy, which has historically relied on lignite mining, and to create new high-tech employment opportunities in the region’s green transformation.
The region, which is territorially split between Germany and Poland faces persistent environmental challenges. Decades of lignite extraction have left soils and water bodies polluted and, in many areas, highly acidic. Environmental monitoring has historically been sporadic, with pH values and pollutant concentrations measured at infrequent intervals. The AIS-Edge Node project seeks to change this with real-time data collection and AI-driven analysis. Solid-state sensors deliver reliable measurements regardless of soil or water turbidity, while algorithms can detect anomalies, link them to historical and meteorological data, and provide forecasts and actionable recommendations.
The project also addresses safety concerns in the hydrogen economy, an area of growing importance in Germany’s energy transition. Ultrasonic sensors developed under the initiative can detect hydrogen across concentrations from 1% to 100%, offering high-temperature stability, low maintenance requirements, and measurement accuracy within two percent. AI-supported evaluation allows early leak detection, precise localisation, and long-term robustness, while CMOS-compatible manufacturing permits the direct integration of electronics with the sensors.
Fraunhofer IPMS is working with regional partners including LKT Lausitzer Klärtechnik, UP Umweltanalytische Produkte, PRIGNITZ Mikrosystemtechnik, Actemium BEA, and GST Gesellschaft für System- und Tankanlagentechnik, alongside more than ten other companies and associations that have expressed support through letters of intent.
Dr Sebastian Meyer, Head of Cognitive Systems at Fraunhofer IPMS, said: “With the AIS-EN project, we are taking an important step toward a sustainable future for Lusatia. Our solutions integrate environmental protection with hydrogen technology and support the region’s green transformation.”
The five-year programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with approximately 7 million euros, reflecting a broader national strategy to support regions undergoing structural economic change.
