Collaborative Safety and Security News

With the opening of the SIRIOS Lab on March 25, 2026, the Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems FOKUS is setting a new benchmark for the simulation, visualization, and analysis of complex crisis scenarios. The modernized laboratory in Berlin expands the former Safety Lab with larger visualization areas, immersive media technology, and a flexible spatial concept. This makes it a research and demonstration environment for networked security systems that is unique in Germany.

On April 8, the state of Berlin, represented by Iris Spranger, Berlin Senator for the Interior and Sport, Police Vice President Marco Langner and State Fire Director Dr. Karsten Homrighausen, and Fraunhofer SIRIOS, represented by SIRIOS spokesperson Prof. Dr. Manfred Hauswirth, signed a joint cooperation agreement. This will enable public administration and science to cooperate even more closely and jointly develop, test and apply new technologies – for security situations specifically tailored to Berlin.

At its first annual conference, Fraunhofer SIRIOS presents itself as a technology and innovation platform for public safety. In the event center of Fraunhofer FOKUS in Berlin, transformed into a demo lab, around 140 guests, representatives from politics, security authorities, industry, associations, and research came together on October 19 to discuss the first results of Fraunhofer SIRIOS.

There are approximately 21 million people with a migrant background living in Germany. Comprehension problems between patients and medical staff due to language barriers pose a particularly significant challenge for all parties involved and increase the risk of treatment errors and ineffective preventive measures. HYKIST assists foreign language-speaking patients upon arrival at the emergency room as well as with over-the-phone translation during doctor-patient meetings through AI-assisted communication. In this way, complex medical issues and specialist terminology in particular can be better translated.

More public safety and security through simulations of urban infrastructure: In January 2022, the newly founded Fraunhofer Center for Security of Socio-Technical Systems SIRIOS in Berlin started operations. In comprehensive research and development projects, it bundles the competencies of four Fraunhofer institutes. The aim is to set up a research, test and training environment for security authorities, rescue services and operators of critical infrastructure over the next four years. There, complex security scenarios can be simulated, experienced virtually and tested in real life. The direct participation of citizens should also be made possible, e.g. by assessing the subjective sense of security.

TISiM - the transfer office for IT security in medium-sized businesses - today announces the launch of the Sec-O-Mat after a successful pilot phase. The tool bundles recommendations for action from a wide range of existing initiatives with offers for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the self-employed, freelancers, and skilled trades.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-enterprises make a significant contribution to Germany's economic performance. However, the information security of companies often lags behind the opportunities of the digital transformation. Dangers are not recognized or are incorrectly assessed. As part of the new ELITE research project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the aim is to create experiential sites for “ErLebbare IT-SichErheit durch mobile IT-Sec.PopUp-Labs”.

KATRETTER has officially started at the Berlin Fire Department. After an intensive test phase of one year, the targeted training and networking of civilian helpers is to become an important supplementary component for emergency rescue. The helper system is based on the KATWARN technology and was developed by researchers of the Public Safety business unit of Fraunhofer FOKUS. It is a cooperation with the Berlin Fire Department and CombiRisk GmbH.

TISiM starts nationwide IT support network. Competent support network with funding from the Federal Ministry of Economics helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to protect themselves against malware, data theft and hacker attacks. Kick-off of the pilot phase with the first 11 regional IHK contact points as part of the it-sa 365. 80 contact points are planned nationwide. TISiM calls on providers and initiatives to participate.

Closer cooperation and long-term partnership for IT security and digital infrastructures agreed between the Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems (FOKUS) and the Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft (HTW) Berlin.