The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft develops solutions of direct practical value to technical and organizational problems and contributes to the wide-scale implementation of new
technologies. Companies of all sizes in the manufacturing and service sectors benefit from contract research. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft represents an important source of innovative know-how for small and medium-sized companies that do not maintain their own R&D departments.

Application-oriented basic research

Research activity undertaken by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft encompasses far more than fulfilling contract obligations. Basic and project-related funding by the German federal ministry of education and research enables the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft to conduct non-contract advanced research into technological fields which hold high promise for the future. This paves the way for entry into new markets. Expertise acquired through this research by the Fraunhofer Institutes is of course made available to industry through collaborative projects.