An Introduction to
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft
and Fraunhofer USA
Patrick Bressler
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft at a Glance
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft undertakes applied
research of direct utility to private and public
enterprise and of wide benefit to society.
€2 billion
€1.7
billion
Nearly 24,000
staff
Contract Research
Research Budget
66 institutes and research units
Almost 30%
is contributed by the
German federal and
Länder Governments.
More that 70%
is derived from contracts
with industry and from
publicly financed
research projects.
2014
Mission Statement
 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft promotes and conducts applied
research in an international context, to benefit private and
public enterprise and is an asset to society as a whole.
 Institutes help to reinforce the competitive strength of the
economy in their region, throughout Germany and in
Europe.
 As an employer, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft offers a
platform that enables its staff to develop both professional
and personal skills.
“Fraunhofer lines”
Building the Innovation Bridge across
the „Valley of Death“
Applications
Science
Prototyping
Pilot line
Global Fabs
Products
Technology
Innovation
Technology Readiness
Universities
Research Labs
RTOs
Industry-led
partnerships
Anchor company
Global manufacturing
investment
Market
Large Scale
Production
Competitive
manufacturing
Validation &
Demonstration
Technology
development
Scientific
Knowledge
funding
Technology Research & Validation
Fraunhofer-Model
Base Funding
1/3
long term
Public Projects
Industrial Contracts
1/3
between 2-4 years
1/3
< 2 years
has to be balanced
 Base Funding:
continuity of scientific excellence
 Public Projects:
pre-competitive research (networks)
 Industrial Contracts: direct innovation push
Cooperation with Universities
Institutional integration by dual appointment:
Fraunhofer Institute director = University professor (chair)
Fraunhofer Institute
University Chair
 access to basic research
 cooperation in industry-oriented
projects; opportunities for interns,
under-graduates and graduates to
gain practical experience
 recruitment of junior scientists
 recruitment of students (interns,
undergraduates)
 opportunities for employees to
gain scientific qualification
(doctorate, professorship,
contributing to the university‘s
curriculum)
 integration of practical applications
into the curriculum
 access to cost-intensive
equipment
Working in networks with the best to constantly improve capabilities
Leveraging the
networks
 International
cooperation with
the best
 National
Networks
Scientific excellence
in specific knowledge
domains
 Cooperation with the
best universities
 Cooperation with
leading companies in
dynamic markets
 Internal programs to
foster cooperation
 Fraunhofer alliances
 Fraunhofer Innovation
Cluster
 scientific and technological excellence is
most important for customer*
 presitigious science awards for
Fraunhofer researcher
 attractive employer for best students
Time
* Source: IfD survey 5241, January 2009, IfD-Allensbach
Fraunhofer worldwide
Glasgow
Vancouver Londo
San José
Gothenburg
Dublin Southampton
Wrocław
Brussels
Vienna
Paris
Budapest
Bolzano
Graz
East
n
Boston
Lansing
Plymouth
Storrs
Maryland Newark
Porto
Beijing
Jerusalem
Cairo
Dubai
Bangalore
Ampang
Singapore
Jakarta
Salvador
Campinas
São Paulo
Santiago de Chile
Sendai
Tokyo
Osaka
Seoul
Stellenbosch
Sydney
Fraunhofer USA Inc.
largest subsidiary, est. 1994
Fraunhofer USA
Headquarters
Coatings & Diamond
Technologies CCD
East Lansing
Plymouth Cambridge
Boston
Maryland
Newark
San Fransisco,
San Jose
Manufacturing
Innovation CMI
Sustainable Energy
Systems CSE
Energy Innovation
CEI
Molecular
Biotechnology CMB
Heinrich Hertz
Institute (HHI) USA
Digital Media
Technologies DMT
Coatings and Laser
Applications CLA
Experimental Software
Engineering CESE
Building the Innovation Bridge across
the „Valley of Death“
Applications
Science
Prototyping
Pilot line
Global Fabs
Products
Technology
Innovation
Technology Readiness
Universities
Research Labs
RTOs
Industry-led
partnerships
Anchor company
Global manufacturing
investment
Market
Large Scale
Production
Competitive
manufacturing
Validation &
Demonstration
Technology
development
Scientific
Knowledge
funding
Technology Research & Validation
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
The inventor of mp3