From Vision to the Future: The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as a Driver of Innovation

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is a leading applied research organization. By focusing on the key technologies of the future that are also central to the High-Tech Agenda Germany, it makes an essential contribution to Germany’s innovative strength and competitiveness.

Fraunhofer helps small and medium-sized enterprises in particular strengthen their long-term competitive position—companies that lack their own research capabilities and have a particularly strong need for research services. One visible sign of this success is the consistently high number of successfully completed projects with industrial customers. Despite challenging conditions, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft achieved a record 966 million euros in industry revenue in 2025.

Coinciding with the UNESCO commemorative year marking the 200th anniversary of Joseph von Fraunhofer’s death, selected current research examples from across the Fraunhofer world demonstrate how strongly our eponym continues to shape our identity today: He was an outstanding craftsman, researcher and entrepreneur who derived groundbreaking insights into optics from his investigations while successfully translating his ideas into innovative, marketable products with significant societal benefits.

The Life and Legacy of Joseph von Fraunhofer

The following examples illustrate how Fraunhofer research contributes to Germany’s innovative strength on a daily basis—with up-to-date, practical solutions for industry, small and medium-sized businesses, and society, as well as for government entities.

Together with ams OSRAM, Fraunhofer IZM has developed a novel digitally controlled LED matrix that transforms automotive headlights into precision light projectors. Instead of just a few light sources, the system draws on tens of thousands of individually controllable LEDs that direct light precisely and efficiently to where it is needed. This provides optimum illumination of the road without dazzling other road users. In addition, warning symbols can be projected directly onto the road surface.

The technology improves road safety, saves energy and opens up new applications—from more efficient vehicle technology to augmented reality. Strengthening industry’s innovative capacity, it opens up new market opportunities for intelligent lighting and display solutions, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.

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CAR T cell therapy is an innovative approach in cancer medicine in which the body’s own immune cells are genetically modified to recognize and destroy tumor cells. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI support partners in developing, optimizing and clinically evaluating new CAR-T cell therapies. For example, the institute manufactures clinical trial materials in its cleanrooms for a clinical study conducted by University Hospital Würzburg in which CAR-T cells are used to treat hematological and solid tumors.

To increase the availability of CAR-T cell therapies and other immunotherapies in the future, Fraunhofer IZI is working with other Fraunhofer institutes to develop new bioprocesses and automated manufacturing methods. The goal is to make the production of cell and gene therapies faster and more cost-effective, enabling more patients to gain access to innovative medicinal products.

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Buildings are exposed to a wide range of influences, including weather, structural changes and patterns of use, but conventional heat pump controls fail to adequately account for these factors. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE is therefore researching intelligent heat pumps that use artificial neural networks to analyze their surroundings autonomously and continuously adapt their operation. A new AI-based controller now makes it possible to avoid incorrect settings and operate heating systems much more efficiently.

The innovation holds great promise for the energy transition in the building sector: Simulations and initial field tests show savings potential of up to 10 percent while also improving comfort. This can reduce both energy costs and emissions. At the same time, it creates new market opportunities for manufacturers of digital heating and building technologies.

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Cyberattacks and industrial espionage cause massive losses for businesses and public authorities every year and conventional security systems are increasingly reaching their limits. The Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE has developed AMIDES, a freely available open-source system that uses artificial intelligence to detect cyberattacks specifically designed to evade conventional signature-based detection. The approach combines machine learning with existing security rules and is designed to minimize false alarms.

The innovation strengthens the digital security of businesses and other organizations by efficiently expanding existing IT security infrastructure. Organizations with a centralized security operations center in particular benefit from a practical, transparent and cost-effective solution for cyber defense.

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In the high-volume industrial production of stamped parts, precision determines the functionality of entire systems, yet conventional quality inspection quickly reaches its limits at high production speeds. Together with the SME Quittenbaum GmbH, the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM has developed the first optical inspection system capable of measuring 3D precision-stamped parts directly during production. As the parts fall, multiple cameras capture each one and compare it with the CAD reference model within fractions of a second.

The solution increases process reliability, reduces scrap and avoids costly rework. It is particularly relevant for the automotive, electrical engineering and medical technology sectors, strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs through efficient, automated quality assurance.

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Highly sensitive measurements of extremely weak magnetic fields open up new possibilities in medicine, industry and security. The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF has developed a compact, integrated diamond-based quantum magnetometer that operates with exceptional precision, robustness and virtually no calibration requirements. The miniaturized sensor measures even the weakest magnetic fields in the picotesla range and can be used in a wide variety of applications, including biomedical diagnostics, materials testing, geology and secure GPS-independent navigation.

The technology is highly relevant to society because it makes critical infrastructure more resilient while enabling new diagnostic and navigation methods. At the same time, it strengthens Germany as a high-tech location and opens up new application areas in sensor and quantum technologies for industry and SMEs.

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Digital applications require memory that is fast, durable and extremely energy efficient. The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS has joined forces with semiconductor manufacturer GlobalFoundries to develop a novel ferroelectric memory technology that meets these requirements. The technology is based on ultrafast, non-volatile FRAM memory based on hafnium oxide that can, for the first time, be integrated into an existing industrial chip manufacturing process.

The innovation is particularly relevant for the automotive industry, medical technology, industrial automation and artificial intelligence at the edge. Enabling energy-efficient electronics “made in Europe”, it strengthens the competitiveness of industry and SME technology providers in the highly competitive semiconductor market.

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Clean air is fundamental to health and climate protection. Air quality over Europe, Africa and around the world can be monitored more accurately than ever before through the ESA missions Sentinel-4 and Sentinel-5 being run under the European Copernicus program. The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF provides key optical components, including high-precision diffraction gratings, lenses and mounts suitable for outer space, developed in close collaboration with Jena-Optronik GmbH and Airbus Defence and Space.

The technology enables significantly improved identification of emission sources and greenhouse gases. It is highly relevant to society in connection with climate research and environmental policy while also strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty and the competitiveness of industry and specialized SMEs in the optics and space sectors.

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Artificial intelligence makes industrial robots more flexible and productive, but it also creates new challenges for safety in manufacturing. Commissioned by Hitachi Ltd., the Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKS has developed a safety architecture that enables AI-based control systems to be secured systematically. At its core is the so-called AI Safety Envelope architecture, which safeguards AI functions through self-monitoring, self-protecting and self-testing mechanisms, systematically reducing risks in accordance with international standards.

The solution is socially relevant because it enables safe human-robot collaboration and is economically significant for industry and SMEs. It creates the conditions for the flexible use of AI in industrial robots without compromising safety or reliability, thereby contributing to more efficient, robust and future-ready manufacturing processes.

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Highly efficient solar cells are a key enabler of a sustainable energy supply. The world’s most efficient solar cell was developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE: A III-V tandem solar cell achieves an efficiency of 47.6 percent under concentrated sunlight—a world-leading result. This was made possible by a four-junction tandem cell structure based on optimized semiconductor materials with a novel anti-reflective coating that minimizes optical losses and significantly increases the spectral utilization of sunlight.

The technology targets applications where maximum conversion efficiency translates directly into lower system costs. The primary focus is on concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) for regions with high solar irradiance. In addition, III-V tandem solar cells are used in applications where space and weight are critical—particularly in the aerospace sector and, in the future, in vehicle-integrated photovoltaics (VIPV), where high power density is essential. These advances strengthen Germany as a technology location and create development and technology transfer opportunities for industry and SMEs across the entire photovoltaic value chain.

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The Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst Mach Institute EMI has developed the ERNST satellite mission—a compact satellite platform that has been operating successfully in orbit since August 2024. As the first European system of its kind, the satellite detects infrared signatures to identify and track missile launches. As a technology demonstrator, ERNST shows that even small satellites can reliably perform complex measurement tasks under space conditions.

The mission is highly significant because it tests new technologies in space and provides an important foundation for future applications, particularly European early warning systems and satellite constellations. At the same time, ERNST demonstrates the advantages of small satellites: faster development, lower costs and greater design flexibility as a complement to existing space systems.

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Drones are posing an increasing challenge for the protection of buildings and people. Commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE worked with public authorities and partners from industry and research—including the Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR—to develop a flexible counter-drone system. It combines technologies such as radar, radio direction finding and cameras to detect, identify and track drones. Countermeasures include jammers and interceptor drones.

The solution directly addresses real-world operational needs: Security authorities were closely involved from the outset. The system enables rapid operational decision-making and can be adapted modularly to different scenarios—from protecting critical infrastructure to securing major public events. In this way, IDAS-PRO lays the foundation for rapid deployment in practical applications and strengthens security in increasingly complex airspace.

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Palm oil is a key raw material for many products but is increasingly coming under criticism because of its environmental impact. In collaboration with partners, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB have developed a sustainable alternative: Ethanol obtained from industrial waste gases is converted into a palm oil alternative at Fraunhofer IGB using yeast. The process uses climate-damaging gases as a feedstock while also enabling the targeted control of the fat composition.

The innovation contributes to climate and resource protection by recycling waste gases and opening up sustainable production pathways. At the same time, independent and environmentally friendly alternatives to imported palm oil create new opportunities for the cosmetics and food industries.

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Until now, photovoltaics could only be integrated into architecture with limited aesthetic appeal. For this reason, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have developed a technique that applies realistic patterns and colors directly to PV modules without significantly affecting their efficiency. Using specially structured films with transparent openings, designs such as roof tiles or custom patterns can be created. It is based on MorphoColor® technology, which creates the impression of color and can be applied to all standard photovoltaic and solar thermal modules.

Known as Shade Cut, the technology has great potential for both the construction and energy transitions because it increases the acceptance of solar installations and opens up new application possibilities, such as on facades or on historic buildings. At the same time, PV manufacturers and the construction industry benefit from greater design freedom while maintaining virtually full energy efficiency.

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