Human Resources and Corporate Culture

No two people are alike – every organization is a mix of people of different sexes, cultural backgrounds, ages and personal aspirations. Diversity management is an approach that aims to make use of this social diversity to the benefit of the whole organization, and allow everyone to share in its results. 

The diversity of the Fraunhofer institutes is the lifeblood of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Every institute is unique, whether in size, focus or organizational structure. This diversity is a strength that allows the organization to respond flexibly to specific challenges. At the same time, it also requires shared models, such as an understanding of leadership that serves as a binding foundation and provides guidance across the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as a whole.

Fraunhofer’s approach to careers is all about empowering people to use their time at Fraunhofer optimally for their own professional development. Applied research offers a wealth of areas where people can grow and develop, from building expertise in specific fields to honing skills in project management and acquisition and growing their network. 

Our goal is to provide junior scientists during their time at Fraunhofer with dependable conditions of employment and to contribute as best we can to their individual career development, including the provision of additional qualifications. Given our intrinsic focus on applied research, Fraunhofer is able to offer junior scientists the opportunity to work in a broad range of areas as well as gain additional qualifications in specialist or interdisciplinary fields. As a rule, the attainment of a doctorate at a university marks an important step toward a successful career in science or, indeed, in industry.

Fraunhofer’s success as a research organization relies on ideas and inspiration from young research scientists. Fixed-term employment contracts are a key element of HR policy in this regard. Training and developing research scientists during their time at Fraunhofer and in preparation for subsequent careers in other organizations is therefore to be linked to fixed-term employment relationships.  

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is a research organization with an open, international mindset. It creates a working environment where people from different cultural contexts work together, learn from each other and can grow and evolve. 

Fraunhofer has been one of Germany’s best employers for years now, as confirmed by both external rankings and high favorability ratings from our own employees. 

The world of work is changing rapidly, driven by the digital transformation as well as major social and economic challenges. Our goal as a scientific organization is to navigate this environment by actively working with other stakeholders to shape a working world that will meet future demands, forging new paths to balance excellence, innovation and flexibility.

At Fraunhofer, Learning & Transfer stands for a strategic and forward-looking approach to the further development of knowledge, expertise and collaboration. We view learning as a key to transferring research into application and knowledge into action. Our wraparound approach to education is all about empowering our employees — individually, with a focus on real-world practice and connections.