The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, headquartered in Germany, is one of the world’s leading organizations for applied research. Since its founding as a nonprofit organization in 1949, Fraunhofer has held a unique position in the German research and innovation ecosystem. With nearly 32,000 employees, the research organization operates 75 institutes and legally independent research units across Germany. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft plays a major role in innovation by prioritizing research on cutting-edge technologies and the transfer of results to industry to strengthen Germany’s industrial base and for the benefit of society as a whole.
Fraunhofer’s primary customer base consists of large and medium-sized companies that utilize its expertise to boost their competitiveness with new technologies. For years, Fraunhofer has been one of the most active patent applicants in both Germany and Europe. Its extensive international patent portfolio is the basis for technology transfer through research projects, spin-offs and licensing. Moreover, Fraunhofer addresses societal goals in key technology sectors through interdisciplinary and international partnerships in specific markets. Examples include developments in microelectronics, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, healthcare, the circular economy, new materials, energy systems, critical infrastructure security and defense.
Fraunhofer is an attractive and established partner in publicly funded joint projects with industry partners. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is also instrumental in strengthening Germany’s innovation and industrial base and ensuring its viability. Its activities create jobs in Germany, increase public-sector investments, give companies competitive edges and foster public acceptance of advanced technology. International partnerships with leading research partners and companies around the world ensure direct contact with the most influential research communities and economic areas.
Fraunhofer’s annual business volume is €3.6 billion, €3.1 billion of which is generated by contract research — Fraunhofer's core business model. Unlike other public research organizations, base funding from the German federal and state governments is merely the foundation for the annual research budget. This serves as the basis for groundbreaking precompetitive research that will become important for the private sector and society in the years ahead. Fraunhofer’s distinctive feature is its large share of industry revenue, guaranteeing close collaboration with the private sector and industry and the consistent focus of Fraunhofer’s research on the market. In 2024 alone, industry revenue accounted for €867 million of its total budget. Fraunhofer's research portfolio is augmented by competitively acquired public-sector funding, pursuing the right balance between public-sector and industry revenue.
Highly motivated employees are the most important factor behind Fraunhofer’s success. The research organization therefore fosters an environment that encourages independent thinking, creativity and goal-driven work. It supports career development in both research and industry by providing targeted programs for professional and personal development.
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is a recognized nonprofit organization named after Joseph von Fraunhofer (1787–1826), a Munich-based scholar who enjoyed equal success as a scientist, inventor and entrepreneur. His legacy continues to inspire the organization’s spirit of innovation to this day.
Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKS
