The research organization was founded in 1949, in the same year as the Federal Republic of Germany, and started out as a small office with just three employees. As it stands today, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has attained a size and influence that makes it an undisputedly vital element in Germany’s industrial and scientific landscape. The impressive march of progress as seen and experienced by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is documented on this web page.
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft owes its name to Joseph von Fraunhofer (1787–1826). Joseph von Fraunhofer's scientific curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit helped him evolve from a glass grinder to a scientific pioneer who, as an inventor and entrepreneur, turned ideas into marketable products and commercialized them. His innovative spirit and market orientation shaped the identity of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, which is committed to carrying on his legacy. The story of his life and works clearly indicates why he was chosen as the role model for our organization.
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft