International Annual Conference of the Fraunhofer ICT

Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Data Science in Energetic Materials Research (June 24-27, 2025)

The ICT International Annual Conference serves as a forum to discuss the current state of the art, to present new methods, ideas, and research results and to further improve scientific understanding in the field of energetic materials. Join our conference to benefit from a platform for lively discussions, detailed exchange of scientific results and - most importantly for networking with international experts.

Up to this day after decades of research and progress the development of new energetic materials and systems still relies heavily on cost and time-consuming trial and error. The reason for this is that energetic materials characteristics like performance, sensitivity or ageing often exhibit unexpected and very sensitive dependencies on changing environmental conditions like temperature, pressure, or chemical composition. Also, the identification of essential input parameters for established numerical simulations is often constrained by challenging experimental conditions or financial and temporal limitations which restrict the detailed characterization to only a few selected candidate materials.

New methods from Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Data Science could revolutionize the development of new energetic materials and systems in the future. This would enable scientists to screen larger chemical spaces, live cycle conditions or applications than ever before, to learn about cause-effect relationships and to extract more information from datasets. However, there is a caveat. One of the main challenges is the often limited size and quality of datasets, which hinders the development of precise models and the ability to discriminate between real information and statistical noise.

The 54th International Annual Conference of the Fraunhofer ICT gives energetic materials researchers a unique opportunity to discuss new methods and trends, to meet old and new colleagues and to contribute to a lively discussion. In particular, the conference offers a unique platform for young scientists and early-career researchers to present their research and to build their international network of experts.

The integration of "Advances in metal fuels and reactive materials science and technology", a symposium organized by Dr. Carole Rossi (Toulouse/F), Dylan J. Kline (Livermore, CA/USA), Conrad J. M. Hessels (Eindhoven/NL) and Peter Schaaf (Ilmenau/D), into the 2025 ICT International Annual Conference will contribute further to its wide spectrum of scientific contributions.

Chairman of the Conference
Dr. Sebastian Wurster

Spokesman for Explosives Technology, Safety and Security
Fraunhofer ICT, Pfinztal, Germany 

The Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology is holding its 54th International Annual Conference on: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Data Science in Energetic Materials Research. Conference language is English.

Main topics

  • New AI and ML algorithms for energetic materials research
  • Data management and integration for energetic materials research
  • Predictive models for performance of energetic materials
  • Energetic materials design with AI / ML methods
  • Use of AI for control and optimization of experimental setups
  • Advanced simulation capabilities through AI / ML
  • Safety analysis and risk assessment with AI / ML
  • Advances in metal fuels and reactive materials science and technology
  • Applications of reactive materials and metal fuels (sustainable energy, agent defeat, munition, pyrotechnics, propulsion, ...)

Presentation

Contributions to the conference can take the form of oral presentations (presentation time 20 minutes including discussion) or posters. Please submit an extended abstract not exceeding 500 words with optional figures and tables together with the exact title and name of the author(s). The papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings which will be available at the beginning of the event. Guidelines on how to prepare the text for publication will be sent to the authors.

Schedule

  • Abstracts (to Manuela Wolff, contact info at the bottom of this page): Dec. 16, 2024
  • Reply to authors March 2025
  • Full papers April 2025
  • The program will be published in April 2025. 

News

+++ August 2024 – The ICT International Annual Conference now has its own LinkedIn-Page. Join us there, if you like +++

+++ July 2024 – The Application for the accompanying exhibition is now online +++

+++ June 2024 – The Call for Papers is now online. +++

 

Our topics

The International Annual Conference of the Fraunhofer ICT, with different emphasis each year, cover scientific and technological progress in the entire field of energetic materials and the related disciplines. The 2025 conference will be held with the emphasis on artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science in energetic materials research and includes the aspects:

New AI and ML algorithms for energetic materials research – Data management and integration for energetic materials research – Predictive models for performance of energetic materials – Energetic materials design with AI / ML methods – Use of AI for control and optimization of experimental setups – Advanced simulation capabilities through AI / ML – Safety analysis and risk assessment with AI / ML

Symposium with lectures

 by world-leading scientists and experts

Scientific poster session

Exchange of scientific results and lively discussion in the foyer of the Gartenhalle

Awards

Traditionally, the best poster of the conference will be awarded – always a hard decision for the poster committee. The PEP Speaker Award for the best oral presentation is presented for the third time. In 2024 two presenters received this award.

ICT-Tour

Also traditional, attendees are invited to visit the Fraunhofer ICT for a tour of selected laboratories and pilot plants, followed by a BBQ and a special highlight.

Further information

The conference will take place in the Gartenhalle of the Karlsruhe Convention Center - an event location in the heart of Karlsruhe city.

Hence, a variety of hotels and restaurants are nearby, and the conference site is within walking distance to the castle, the main station, and the shopping streets.

Karlsruhe and surroundings - discover, experience, visit...

© A.Savin, WikiCommons

Don’t miss to visit the castle of Karlsruhe and much more points of interests in and around the city.  

Discover Karlsruhe

In 1970 the first Annual Conference of the Fraunhofer ICT in the field of propellants and explosives took place. Held for over 50 years, the conference has gained worldwide importance, with hundreds of participants from more than 30 nations.

Below you can see some impressions of the annual conference in the 1970s.

© Fraunhofer ICT
© Fraunhofer ICT
© Fraunhofer ICT
© Fraunhofer ICT
© Fraunhofer ICT
© Fraunhofer ICT

Contact

Contact Press / Media

Manuela Wolff

Fraunhofer-Institut für Chemische Technologie ICT
Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Straße 7
76327 Pfinztal

Phone +49 721 4640-121

Fax +49 721 4640-120