Three Aachen-based Fraunhofer Institutes and other experts from industry and research have established the “International Center for Networked, Adaptive Production” (ICNAP) to find out which new approaches in information technology can lead the way towards Industry 4.0 and which requirements must be met.
Besides European companies, already eight Japanese companies are members, and more are welcome.
ICNAP works in seven research areas that cover the implementation of “Networked, Adaptive Production”:
Sensor systems and data acquisition
This topic field focuses on the collection and utilization of data in industrial and technical processes.
Interfaces and connectivity
Once the production data is reliably recorded, a suitable communication protocol such as MQTT or OPC UA must be selected, and a decision must be made as to whether communication should take place via a wired or wireless connection.
Data synchronization and middleware
The field of data synchronization and middleware mainly deals with the question of how raw data is (time)synchronized between all entities of a communication network.
Data modeling and data analytics
To provide employees in manufacturing companies – from production planners and quality managers to machine operators– with even better support for their decisions, it is important to define which process chain data is specifically relevant to them.
Digital twin in the product life cycle
Before the recorded information and the acquired know-how can be stored and used along the entire value chain, relevant data must be linked and related to each other.
Cloud systems and IT architecture
Efficient IT architecture is vital to the successful integration of digital tools in production.
Data-driven business models
Not only does networked, adaptive production improve production by making additional knowledge available, it also paves the way for completely new forms of economic value creation through extended or new physical processes and products.
Japanese companies interested to join ICNAP can contact its representative in Japan: Dr. Lorenz Granrath lorenz.granrath@ipt-extern.fraunhofer.de
Source: Fraunhofer-ICNAP
Picture: Campus of RWTH Aachen University with its production technology centre and three Fraunhofer Institutes
Published: October 2025