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TRR 402 DediGrad was presented to an international expert audience at the “Carbon Korea 2025” trade fair in Seoul. Prof. Dr Lothar Kroll, spokesperson of TRR 402 DediGrad and holder of the Chair of Lightweight Structures and Plastics Processing at Chemnitz University of Technology, introduced key approaches of the Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio 402 DediGrad in his keynote “Production Technologies for Load-Dedicated Lightweight Structures”. The research consortium has been funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) since April 2025.
The presentation focused on intelligent production technologies for resource-efficient, sustainable and high-performance lightweight structures. A particular emphasis was placed on the 3D grading of reinforcement architectures, which enables continuous material transitions in hybrid fibre-reinforced polymer composites. The aim is to adapt reinforcement structures specifically to load requirements and thereby better combine material efficiency, mechanical performance and sustainability.
The presentation took place in the context of an international cooperation: during “Carbon Korea 2025”, representatives of Chemnitz University of Technology and the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Korea Carbon Industry Promotion Agency (KCARBON) in Seoul on 20 November 2025. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation along the entire value chain from carbon fibre production to high-performance components.
The cooperation brings together expertise in sustainable carbon fibre production, precursor development, composite applications and industrial standardisation. The German partners contribute their expertise through the Chair of Lightweight Structures and Plastics Processing, the central research unit MERGE, the Carbon LabFactory in Boxberg/Oberlausitz and Fraunhofer IAP, while KCARBON, as Korea’s national hub for the carbon industry, builds bridges to industry, particularly in the fields of automotive engineering, aviation and renewable energies.
By presenting DediGrad at Carbon Korea 2025, TRR 402 strengthens its international visibility in the field of intelligent and sustainable production technologies for lightweight structures. At the same time, the trade fair appearance underlines the close connection between research within TRR 402 DediGrad and current questions of sustainable carbon technologies, recyclable materials and industrial application perspectives.