DACHSER locks in Fraunhofer research tie-up through 2029

DACHSER has extended its research partnership with two Fraunhofer institutes until the end of 2029, committing the family-owned forwarder to another three years of joint work on artificial intelligence, robotics and digital tools for freight operations.

The agreement covers the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML) in Dortmund and the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS) in St. Augustin. The partners will continue their collaboration through the DACHSER Enterprise Lab, a joint unit where researchers and logistics specialists develop technology intended for everyday use rather than the laboratory.

"Our research collaboration with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is a key element in our innovation strategy," said Burkhard Eling, CEO of DACHSER.

What has eight years of joint research produced?

The partnership dates back to 2017, making it one of the longer-running corporate-research alliances in European logistics. Its flagship output is @ILO, a digital twin system that supports groupage cargo handling by managing processes through digital information rather than paperwork.

The system also gives DACHSER greater visibility across its operations — a capability that matters commercially in groupage, where consolidation depends on knowing exactly what cargo sits where, and when.

DACHSER expects @ILO to be live at 14 locations across Europe by the end of 2026, roughly nine years after the collaboration began. Recognition has followed the rollout: the @ILO project received the German Logistics Award in 2023 and won the European Logistics Association Award in early 2026.

Where does the research go next?

The extended partnership will build on that foundation. Over the next three years, joint teams will explore new applications of artificial intelligence, robotics and digital tools, with the stated focus on practical deployment in DACHSER's groupage network and wider supply chain operations.

"The DACHSER Enterprise Lab, which marries scientific research with practical application, has proven its worth. Over the next three years, we will be focusing on digital solutions, artificial intelligence, and robotics," said Stefan Hohm, Chief Development Officer at DACHSER.

What does it mean for shippers and forwarders?

For DACHSER's customers, the bet is that automation and AI-driven handling translate into faster, more transparent groupage services at predictable cost. For competitors, the extension signals that the Kempten-based operator intends to keep pressing an in-house technology advantage rather than buying innovation piecemeal from vendors.

The deal also underscores a broader pattern in European logistics: research institutes are becoming standing partners for large forwarders as robotics and AI move from pilot projects into terminal-level infrastructure. DACHSER's approach — embedding Fraunhofer researchers inside an operational lab — is designed to shorten the distance between prototype and deployment.

Through the partnership, DACHSER aims to convert emerging technologies into solutions that strengthen its logistics network and improve daily operations. With the framework now secured to the end of 2029, the next measurable checkpoint arrives sooner: the completion of @ILO's 14-site European footprint by the end of 2026.