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Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Based in Germany, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the world’s leading applied research organisation and has a prominent position in the German research landscape. It plays a crucial role in the innovation process by prioritsing research in key future technologies and transferring its research findings to industry in order to strengthen Germany as a hub of industrial activity and to benefit society.
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is a recognized non-profit organisation that takes its name from Joseph von Fraunhofer (1787–1826), the illustrious Munich researcher, inventor and entrepreneur.
Many inventions from its research institutions are known worldwide: the most famous are mp3, which has arguably been the world's most-used audio codec of the past two decades and was developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, an OLED microdisplay with the world’s smallest pixels, which was developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP, and the world’s most efficient solar cell, developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE.
Organisational details
Founded in 1949, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft currently operates 76 institutes and research units throughout Germany. Its nearly 32,000 employees, predominantly scientists and engineers, generate an annual business volume of 3.4 billion euros; 3.0 billion euros of this stems from contract research.
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s interdisciplinary research teams turn original ideas into innovations together with contracting industry and public sector partners, coordinate and complete essential key re-search policy projects and strengthen the German and European economy with ethical value creation. International collaborative partnerships with outstanding research partners and businesses all over the world provide for direct dialogue with the most prominent scientific communities and most dominant economic regions.
Facts and figures
76 Fraunhofer Institutes and research units
Affiliated international research institutions and representative offices
Nearly 32,000 employees, the majority being qualified scientists and engineers
Annual business volume of 3.4 billion euros (2024)
More than 500 invention disclosures in 2023
Research activities
Forming the core focus of Fraunhofer’s research portfolio, the seven Fraunhofer Strategic Research Fields aim to address needs and markets that will shape the future:
- Bioeconomy
- Digital healthcare
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Next generation computing
- Quantum technologies
- Resource efficiency and climate technologies
- Hydrogen technologies
Within these fields, the pre-competitive research specifically targets projects that have high commercial potential, thereby enhancing the impact on society and across multiple sectors.
International activities
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is engaged in a number of international activities, mainly in Europe, North and South America, Asia and the MENA region.
In addition, Fraunhofer participates in international networks and organisations such as the European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics (ERCIM), the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO), the Global Research Alliance (GRA) and the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organizations (WAITRO).
Budget
The annual business volume amounts to 3.4 billion euros (2024); 3.0 billion euros of this stems from contract research, which is divided into three funding pillars.
Fraunhofer generates a share of this from industry and licence-fee revenue, totalling 836 million euros. This high proportion of industrial revenue is Fraunhofer's unique selling point in the German research landscape. Another share of contract research revenue comes from publicly funded research projects. The final share is base funding supplied by the German federal and state governments and enables the Fraunhofer Institutes to develop solutions now that will become relevant to the private sector and society in a few years.
Useful links
Fraunhofer on social media
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Headquarters
- Hansastraße 27c
- 80686 Munich