Dr.-Ing. Lena Cibulski, Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD

The jury awarded the 2025 grand prize to Fraunhofer IGD, where Lena Cibulski completed her doctorate.

In her dissertation, "Visual Analysis for Multi-Attribute Choice", she focused on the structured use of decision theory for a new approach to visualization design and the evaluation of visualizations in the engineering environment. Her interdisciplinary research combines decision theory, cognitive science, and visualization to support experts in data-intensive decisions with many parameters.

The focus is on how analytical results from large amounts of data can be meaningfully combined with the subjective preferences of decision-makers. Based on application-oriented field research and close cooperation with experts, new concepts for real decision-making processes and innovative visualization tools were developed.

At the heart of the work are two innovative visualization tools, PAVED and COMPO*SED, which enable compact overviews of alternatives and constructive preference formation, as well as the analysis of mechatronic components and their conditional combinations.

Dr. Sc. (Tech) Iñigo Cortés, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS

Fraunhofer IIS received second prize for the doctoral thesis by Iñigo Cortés Vidal.

His dissertation, entitled "Generalized Robust Adaptive Control Algorithm for GNSS Receivers", addresses reliable satellite navigation under changing environmental conditions.

The adaptive algorithms developed enable Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receivers to automatically adapt to different operating conditions – with a wide range of applications in aerospace, autonomous mobility, and critical infrastructure.

Cortés Vidal's algorithms have been successfully implemented in hardware and have already found their way into industrial projects.

Dr. Friedrich Wagner, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS

The jury also awarded the third prize to Fraunhofer IIS for Friedrich Wagner's dissertation.

His interdisciplinary work "Integer Optimization for Quantum Computing" combines mathematical optimization with quantum computing and contributes to the advancement of both fields. At the heart of the research is the optimization of quantum compilers: Wagner developed methods that optimally translate abstract quantum algorithms into hardware-specific instructions. Special optimization methods and efficient approximation solutions make it possible to improve the routing of quantum bits and minimize the number of error-prone swap operations.

The possible applications lie in the areas of efficient resource utilization, error reduction in quantum computers, and hybrid algorithms. The new findings from this work enable performance improvements by orders of magnitude compared to established methods.

The Fraunhofer ICT Dissertation Award will be presented this evening at the New Year's reception of the German Informatics Society and the Fraunhofer ICT Group in Berlin.