Fraunhofer Gesellschaft

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft based in Germany is the world’s leading applied research organization. Prioritizing key future-relevant technologies and commercializing its findings in business and industry, it plays a major role in the innovation process. A trailblazer and trendsetter in innovative developments and research excellence, it is helping shape our society and our future. Founded in 1949, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft currently operates 76 institutes and research units throughout Germany. Over 30,000 employees, predominantly scientists and engineers, work with an annual research budget of €2.9 billion. Fraunhofer generates €2.5 billion of this from contract research.

#WeKnowHow

Fraunhofer Profile

Ingenuity is our country’s most important raw material. It enables the efficient and sustainable transfer of scientific knowledge into commercial use. This transfer is the backbone of our innovation system. The coronavirus pandemic has changed our world.  But change brings opportunities. We must gain more sovereignty in key technology areas. From AI – to cybersecurity – to medicine — and transform our economy towards sustainable value creation. We are focusing on strategic research fields — in view of their cross-industry impact and the markets of tomorrow. Now we have the opportunity to become even more resilient than before the crisis. And the opportunity to not only maintain, but also deepen our skills and expertise through a targeted push in innovation. Freedom of action and choice are our goals in order to maintain our position as one of the world’s top players in the most important technology fields. Together, we can emerge from the crisis stronger — and better prepared for future challenges. Let us now set the right course — in harmony with economics and ecology. Fraunhofer. WeKnowHow.

Fraunhofer Strategic Research Fields

Forming the core focus of our research portfolio, the seven Fraunhofer Strategic Research Fields aim to address needs and markets that will shape our future. Within these fields, Fraunhofer's outstanding pre-competitive research specifically targets projects that have high commercial potential, thereby enhancing our impact on society and across multiple sectors. By pursuing the Fraunhofer Strategic Research Fields, we aim to continuously strengthen business and innovation while fostering our technological sovereignty and promoting sustainable value creation in Germany and worldwide.

 

Quantum Technologies

Quantum technologies open up entirely new and unexplored applications in the fields of measurement technology, imaging, secure communication and highly complex calculations. The goal of Fraunhofer is to transfer basic research into applications as quickly as possible.

 

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI), cognitive systems and machine learning have a key role to play in the transformation of our society and economy. Fraunhofer contributes significantly to the development of safe, trusted and resource-efficient AI technologies that closely match the real-world needs.

 

Next Generation Computing

From quantum-based and neuromorphic computing to next-generation micro-electronic components, Fraunhofer is driving the development of hardware and technologies for next-generation computing.

 

Hydrogen Technologies

Hydrogen technologies have an increasingly important role to play in industry’s transition toward sustainable value creation. They form a key part of strategic plans to safeguard a sustainable future.

 

Digital Healthcare

More than half of all Fraunhofer Institutes and research institutions are involved in the four major areas of health research – drugs, diagnostics, devices and data, or 4D for short. Many innovations emerge at the interface between medical science, natural science, computer science and engineering.

 

Bioeconomy

The combination of a growing global population, climate change, dwindling resources and the loss of agricultural land presents global challenges that can only be overcome by a new understanding of sustainable value creation. 

 

Resource efficiency and climate technologies

The world’s natural resources are limited. Yet they are being consumed at ever faster rates by a growing global population. Fraunhofer seek ways of establishing and expanding the kind of sustainable production.