One particular invention brings international fame to the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: mp3, the encoding and compression technique for music data, which has meanwhile developed into a worldwide de facto standard. Its developers Karlheinz Brandenburg, Bernhard Grill and Harald Popp at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS are awarded the German Future Prize, valued at DM 500,000, by the President of the German Federal Republic.
Prof. Alex B. Gershman of the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS receives the Wolfgang Paul-Prize. With the 2.3 million euros award, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation supports his research about intelligent antenna systems for wireless communication with low radiation for the people.
Cross-institute alliances have become an established instrument of internal networking, and the concept is therefore being applied on a wider scale. At the present date, 33 institutes are grouped in six working alliances, as a means of coordinating their activities and presenting a unified market image.
A major topic of discussion at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft this year concerns preparations for the merger with GMD – Forschungszentrum Informationstechnik GmbH. The first joint projects are defined.
The task of the new central »Venture Group« is to supervise spin-offs and to prepare capital participations. In 2000, 48 spin-offs are established by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. More than half of them are accompanied by the Venture Group.
The establishment of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Brussels Office shows Fraunhofer’s attempt to act like a European research institution. The task of the new office is to support Fraunhofer institutes in competing for EU research funding.
At the annual conference of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft 2000 in Berlin, the first science prize of the Stifterverband, the Joseph-von-Fraunhofer awards and the Hugo Geiger prizes are awarded.
The Science Award of the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft awards scientifically excellent joint projects in applied research which Fraunhofer Institutes work on in collaboration with industry and / or other research organizations.
Winners of the Science Award of the Stifterverband
Fraunhofer Research Association "Adaptronics"
Following the example of nature, researchers and technicians want to develop materials that adapt themselves to their environment with the help of integrated sensors, actuators and control technology. These adaptive materials are suitable for dampening vibrations, reducing noise or saving fuel. The cross-institutional research network "Adaptronics" develops the fundamentals and applications for this type of intelligent materials. For its outstanding scientific achievements and its exemplary cooperation, this research association receives the Science Prize of the Stifterverband endowed with 100,000 marks.
Prize winners of the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize
Winner of the Hugo Geiger Prize for junior scientists
Dirk Rothenstein, Christoph Dieterich, Marc Schmidt-Supprian from the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB for outstanding application-oriented diploma theses or comparable achievements in the field of life sciences
With the field »Further Education« the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft opens a new business area. Thus, research and research news are opened up to a broad public.
The "Innovation Center Intelligent House" ("inHaus") opens on April 3, 2001 in Duisburg. The management is headed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS. The inHaus Duisburg is designed as a living and workshop, in which the latest products and services of the partners are integrated and tested - a platform for joint research and development work.
The "Innovation Center Intelligent House Duisburg" is supported by a broad consortium of important companies. In addition, there are the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the city of Duisburg, the Gerhard-Mercator-University Duisburg and other partners as supporters and more partners.
Due to the great success and growth of the molecular biology department of the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology IUCT, the institute changes his name into Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME.
The Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology (CMB) is established in Newark, USA. Within a few years, it becomes the most successful branch office of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in the U.S.
The legal aspects of the integration of GMD – Forschungszentrum für Informationstechnik GmbH are finalized and the institutes themselves are integrated. This, alongside the integration of institutes in the eastern part of Germany, represents the biggest major change since the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft was founded.
In this context, the expansion of the existing GMD office in Tokyo to the Fraunhofer representation takes place. The high-tech nation of Japan has become an enormously important market for the Fraunhofer Institutes.
The former chairman of GMD, Professor Dennis Tsichritzis, is appointed as the fourth Senior Vice President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.
The Fraunhofer Executive Board now consists of the following members: Hans-Jürgen Warnecke (President), Dr. Ing. Dirk-Meints Polter, Prof. Dr. Dennis Tsichritzis and Dr. Hans-Ulrich Wiese.
Fraunhofer Information and Communication Technology Group from eight former GMD and seven Fraunhofer Institutes is being created.
Four Fraunhofer institutes join together into the Fraunhofer Group for Life Sciences.
The Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM, established in 1995, is integrated into the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. It adds the field of applied mathematics to the portfolio of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.
In Europe, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft takes a step forward that is pointing the way. On the initiative of the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM, the Fraunhofer-Chalmers Research Centre for Industrial Mathematics (FCC) in Göteborg is established in cooperation with Chalmers University. It is the first institutional cooperation of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Europe.
At the annual conference of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft on October 24, 2001 in Mainz, the Stifterverband Science Prize, the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prizes and the Hugo Geiger Prizes are awarded.
Prize winners Science Prize of the Stifterverband
Prize winners of the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize
Special Price
Hugo Geiger Prize
The Heinrich-Hertz-Institut, Berlin, is transferred from the Wissenschaftsgemeinschaft Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz e.V. (WGL) to the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Through this enlargement, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s operating budget for the first time exceeds the sum of 1 billion euros.
The former Fraunhofer Institute for Atmospheric Environmental Research IFU joins the Karlsruhe Research Center at the beginning of 2002, and is now being managed by the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers (HGF).
Professor Hans-Jürgen Warnecke, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft since 1993, cedes his office to Professor Hans-Jörg Bullinger, formerly Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO.
Dr. Alfred Gossner takes over responsibility for finance and controlling from Dr. Hans-Ulrich Wiese, who had held this post for 24 years.
After an intensive discussion, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft issues a new mission statement, which is composed of the "mission" and the "values and guidelines" derived from it. The values and guidelines are shared and lived by all the employees of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and thus represent the description of the corporate culture.
At the annual conference of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft 2002 in Stuttgart / Ludwigsburg, the Science Prize of the Stifterverband, the Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Awards and the Hugo-Geiger-Prizes are awarded.
Prize winners Science Prize of the Stifterverband
Prize winners of the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize
Special prize jointly on the subject »Safety of wheel technology in rail transport«
The practice of forming cross-institute groups within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft becomes widely established: Over 50 institutes now work within such groups; the involvement of the alliance spokesmen in the decision-making processes of the Executive Board provides an opportunity for more creative management.
Five Fraunhofer Institutes join together in the Group for Defense and Security in order to coordinate their research activities in this field.
Prof. Karl Leo, director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS, receives the Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz-Prize 2002for his research about Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED). The Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz-Prize is the highest remunerated promotion prize in Germany.
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s central administrative departments finally move into their own building: the new “Fraunhofer-Haus”, thus also confirming the organization’s intention to maintain its headquarters in Munich.
At the annual conference of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft 2003 in Duisburg, the Science Prize of the Stifterverband, the Joseph von Fraunhofer Awards and the Hugo Geiger Prizes are awarded.
Prize winners Science Prize of the Stifterverband
Prize winners of the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize
Hugo Geiger Prize
As of January 1, 2004, the former working group on electronic media technology AEMT at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS is accorded the status of a fully fledged Fraunhofer Institute. From then on, it will be known as the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT.
55 years after the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft was founded, the organization comprises 57 institutes and employes a staff of around 12,700 employees working with a research budget in excess of a billion euros. In 2004, despite the difficult market for research and development services, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft makes good progress and is able to increase its total business volume to 1.069 billion euros. The proportion of expenditure covered by earned revenue increases to 63 percent.
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft becomes heavily involved in the "Partners for Innovation" initiative launched by German chancellor Gerhard Schröder and in which he continues to take personal interest.
The Fraunhofer Center for Nanoelectronic Technologies CNT is established in Dresden. The facility, financed as a public-private partnership, provides a place where new process technologies for nanoelectronic systems can be developed jointly by science and industry.
In Vienna, the Fraunhofer Project Group for Production Management and Logistics (PPL) is set up.
At the annual conference of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft 2004 in Dresden, the Science Prize of the Stifterverband, the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prizes and the Hugo Geiger Prizes are awarded.
Prize winners Science Prize of the Stifterverband
Prize winners of the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize
Hugo Geiger Prize
The Fraunhofer Project Group for Production Management and Logistics (PPL) is founded in Vienna, Austria.
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology ISIT in Itzehoe receives the German Future Prize 2004 for their development of a lab-on-a-chip system in collaboration with Siemens and Infineon Technologies.
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft continues to develop its technology portfolio and publishes a list of twelve “signposts to tomorrow’s markets”.The topics are characterized by outstanding innovation potential, high research needs, market proximity and a focus on Fraunhofer competences.
Prof. Andreas Tünnermann of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF receives a Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz-Prize 2005 for his ground-breaking studies about the development of high-performance fiber laser.
The Fraunhofer Pilot Plant Centre for Polymer Synthesis and Polymer Processing (PAZ) is founded in Schkopau. It is intended to strengthen the research and development capabilities of the Middle German chemical industry.
The Fraunhofer Technology Academy is founded in cooperation with the University of St. Gallen, RWTH Aachen University, and the Hagen University of Distance Learning.
Prof. Dr. Joachim Luther, director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, receives the German Environmental Award 2005 for his research about the advancement of the solar energy use. The highly remunerated prize is awarded by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (BDU).
The Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI is founded in the Biocity Leipzig. It is intended to find special problem solutions for partners from industry and economy at the interface between medicines, life sciences, and engineering sciences.
In cooperation with a venture capital company, Fraunhofer sets up a fund to finance innovative high-tech firms, with special emphasis on spin-offs from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.
The collective agreement for the public service (TVöD) is introduced in the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.
In 2005, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s industrial revenues rises to the record level of 36 percent. This helps to boost the organization’s total business volume by 17 percent to 1.25 billion euros.
The licensing revenues from the mp3 coding process reached a new record level of 110 million euros this year. These short-term expected revenues lead to the intention to set up a Fraunhofer foundation, which could promote important issues in preliminary research over a longer period of time.
The Fraunhofer Award Ceremony 2005 takes place under the motto »New Dimensions - Virtual Worlds« on 19th October in Magdeburg. The prize "Technology for the Human Being", the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize and the Hugo Geiger Prize are awarded.
Technology Prize
For the first time, the Technology Prize "Human-Centered Technology" is be awarded. It was founded by former board members and institute directors of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in order to honor outstanding scientific achievements of the Fraunhofer employees, who contribute to maintaining the performance of humans in their daily lives up to old age at a high level and to improving the living situation in their environment.
Joseph von Fraunhofer prizes
Hugo Geiger Prizes
Doctor of chemistry Ulrich Buller, director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Golm, is promoted to the newly created post of Executive Vice President, Research Planning. This new seat on the Executive Board is created with the intention of lending greater weight to the practical considerations of research in the organization’s governing body.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems IAIS is created through the merger of two existing institutes, the Fraunhofer Institutes for Autonomous Intelligent Systems AIS and for Media Communication IMK.
The mobile communication of the future is the specialty of Prof. Holger Boche. The director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institut, HHI searchs for new ways to expand cellular networks of the third generation. For his work, he receives a "Vodafone Research Award" in Dresden.
The Senate of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft decided on April 25 in Erlangen to set up the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems IAIS. Two existing institutes will be merged: The Fraunhofer Institutes for Autonomous Intelligent Systems AIS and Media Communication IMK.
On July 17, 2005, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft inaugurates its new Center for Central and Eastern Europe MOEZ in Leipzig, with the aim of promoting cooperation between industry and science in East and West.
The presentation of the Fraunhofer Science Awards takes place in Bremen on 18 October 2006 under the motto »We create connections«. The Stifterverband Prize, the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prizes and the Hugo Geiger Prizes are awarded.
Science Award of the Stifterverband
Joseph von Fraunhofer Prizes
Hugo Geiger Prizes
The Federal Government launches the »High-tech Strategy for Germany«. It defines 17 technology topics that are expected to give a boost to the economy. Fraunhofer supports the project and outlines 14 of these topics, which are also focal points of research at the Fraunhofer Institutes.
Federal Research Minister Annette Schavan founds the new advisory group »Forschungsunion Wissenschaft-Wirtschaft«. The President of the Research Union is Fraunhofer President Prof. Dr. Ing. Hans-Jörg Bullinger and Dr. med. Arend Oetker, entrepreneur and president of the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft.
In 2006, a financial volume of 1.186 billion euros is generated by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. In the future, the research organization wants to expand its technological and human capacities.
The German Research Foundation DFG awards the Leibniz Prize to Peter Gumbsch, director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM in Freiburg and Halle. Peter Gumbsch is honored for his outstanding research into the processes involved in the deformation and fracture behavior of materials with the highest research award in Germany in 2007.
The introduction of the "Fraunhofer Attract" program is designed to help Fraunhofer recruit excellent independent scientists with innovative ideas. Calls for proposals for 40 "Attract research groups" are advertised between 2007 and 2009, with up to 2.5 million euros earmarked for each group.
The Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP is established in Halle, run by the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. Its aim is to provide research-technology support to photovoltaics companies in Saxony-Anhalt.
The Fraunhofer Patent Center for German Research PST is dissolved for tax law reasons. The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Publishing and Information Systems IPSI is dissolved; its promising areas of research will be transferred to other institutions, in particular the Fraunhofer Institutes for Secure Information Technology SIT and for Information and Data Processing IITB.
The presentation of the Fraunhofer Science Awards takes place on October 11, 2007 in Bonn under the motto »Fraunhofer-Arena of Innovations«. The Joseph von Fraunhofer Awards, the Hugo Geiger Awards and the "Human-Centered Technology" Prize are awarded. This award recognizes a development that helps improve people's quality of life.
Prize Winners Technology Award
Joseph von Fraunhofer Prizes
Hugo Geiger Prizes
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has set up an extensive program designed to increasingly generate patent clusters over the next few years. This massive investment in in-house research has enabled Fraunhofer scientists to consistently develop patentable ideas and inventions and ensures they can be commercially exploited thanks to patent families. The first two projects "Solar cells based on metallurgical silicon" and "Micro fuel cells" each receives funding to the tune of up to 10 million euros.
In Austria the project group of the Fraunhofer IGD at Graz University of Technology starts work.
Fraunhofer USA opens an affiliated research center on the West Coast of the USA. Fraunhofer Digital Media Technologies (DMT) in San José offers a new platform for customers from the IT sector, predominantly for key companies in the surrounding Silicon Valley.
In South Korea, Fraunhofer expands its network of representative offices in Asia with an office in Seoul. The MENA countries have also become a compelling proposition. In the form of the Fraunhofer Representative Office Middle East in Dubai, Fraunhofer establishes a first point of call in the region.
As part of developing thin-film LEDs, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors carries out pioneering work – supported by Fraunhofer researchers from Jena. Dr. Klaus Streubel and Dr. Stefan Illek from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors together with Dr. Andreas Bräuer from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF in Jena win the German Future Prize 2007, the technology and innovation award bestowed by the German President, for the joint development of LED-based illumination modules.
The Chemnitz branch of the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM gains separate organizational status as the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Electronic Nanosystems ENAS.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Marine Biotechnology EMB in Lübeck, formerly a part of the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, becomes an independent research unit.
The Fraunhofer Technology Development Group TEG is dissolved as an independent organization and its capacities merges with the relevant institutes at the Stuttgart site.
The award ceremony for the Fraunhofer Science Awards takes place on May 28, 2008 in Berlin. The Science Prize of the Stifterverband, the Joseph von Fraunhofer Awards and the Hugo Geiger Prizes are awarded.
Prize winners Science Prize of the Stifterverband
Joseph von Fraunhofer Prizes
Hugo Geiger Prizes
In Portugal, the Associação Fraunhofer Portugal Research is founded. She is responsible for the new Fraunhofer Center for Assistive Information and Communication Solutions (AICOS) in Porto.
The Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSE) added a new dimension to the network run by Fraunhofer USA. The direct cooperation partner on site, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is one of the most prestigious research organizations worldwide.
The President of the University of Munich, Prof. Dr. Marion Schick, takes over from her predecessor, Dr. Dirk-Meints Polter, as Executive Vice President Human Resources and Legal Affairs on October 1, 2008.
New impulses for the mobile communication technology – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. rer.nat. Holger Boche, director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institut, HHI, receives the Leibniz-Prize 2008 for his research about cellular networks. The prize is endowed with 2.5 million euros.
Capitalized with 95 million euros from mp3 license-fee revenue, the Fraunhofer-Zukunftsstiftung is established. Its remit is to promote pre-competitive research in fields of technology where patent clusters can be specifically developed.
The Fraunhofer Forum is established in Berlin – the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft's communications platform in the German capital.
In Portugal, the Associação Fraunhofer Portugal Research is established to run the new Fraunhofer Center for Assistive Information and Communication Solutions (AICOS) in Porto.
The Fraunhofer IWES in Bremerhaven is established. It builds on the work of the Fraunhofer Center for Wind Energy and Maritime Technologies CWMT created in 2006.
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft celebrates its 60th anniversary. 15,000 employees in 57 institutes and the headquarters generated revenues of 1.4 billion euros.
In Austria, Fraunhofer Austria Research GmbH is formed as an umbrella organization for existing and future project groups and branches of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.
With effect from August 17, 2009, the »Forschungsgesellschaft für Angewandte Naturwissenschaften (FGAN)« was incorporated into the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. From now on, the three FGAN institutes are Fraunhofer institutes.
The presentation of the Fraunhofer Science Awards takes place on 23 June 2009 in Munich under the motto "Fraunhofer moves: 60 years engine for innovation". The guest of honor at the annual jubilee meeting is Chancellor Angela Merkel. The prize "Human-Centered Technology", the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize and the Hugo Geiger Prize are awarded.
Prize winners Technology Award
Joseph von Fraunhofer Prizes
Hugo Geiger Prizes
MeVis Research GmbH with its research expertise in medical technology is integrated in the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as the new Bremen-based Fraunhofer Institute for Medical Image Computing MEVIS.
As a multinational contract research organization, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft continually adapts to developments in the research sector and to changes in the business world. This involves interpreting macroeconomic social trends, integrating innovative research scenarios and identifying relevant markets. The core capabilities and business activities have to respond flexibly to change, but also require reliable medium-term perspectives as it takes time to develop expertise in the R&D sector.
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has been consistently widening its European and international orientation for several years on a sustainable basis. The Executive Board confirmed the presented European strategies in 2002 and 2007 and numerous strategically important measures were implemented as a result. Strong growth in global bilateral contract research as well as EU-funded joint projects and the initiation of numerous cooperations with renowned partners impressively underline the international development. This position should not only be conserved, but continuously expanded.
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft