For Customers and Partners

Fraunhofer lead markets: our strategic customer segments

Applied research is the hallmark of Fraunhofer. Industry is our partner. In line with our research fields, Fraunhofer has defined strategic customer segments, which we call “lead markets.” By promoting innovation, Fraunhofer lead markets give Germany a global competitive edge, secure the technological sovereignty of Germany and Europe and deliver sustainable value creation for society.  

These strategic customer segments provide industry customers with access to Fraunhofer’s industry-oriented services:

                     

                     

                     

                    

                     

                     

                     

                     

                     

Central contact point for your inquiries

As the central point of contact for your project inquiries, we are at your disposal for questions, suggestions and requests.

Contact Press / Media

Public sector

The German Mittelstand and SMEs

Large companies

 

Fraunhofer Match: a fast solution

Fraunhofer Match is the central platform for placing research requests with Fraunhofer. Our 74 Fraunhofer institutes cover all areas of applied research. You tell us about your challenge or project—and Fraunhofer Match will put you in touch with researchers who have the right expertise to help you work out solutions.

 

 

What can Fraunhofer do for its clients?

What does Fraunhofer research? How can you collaborate with Fraunhofer? How can Fraunhofer help your business?

If you’re exploring a collaboration with Fraunhofer for the first time, you likely have a number of questions. Below, we answer some of the key questions you may have.

Transfer of ideas and innovations to industry

Valuable technological knowledge and expertise is generated at the Fraunhofer institutes each and every day. For 75 years, Fraunhofer has been fulfilling its responsibility for the successful transfer of this know-how to industry and society by contributing to new products, services and processes. The successful commercialization of technology hinges on a broad and sophisticated set of technology transfer mechanisms.

Impact of Fraunhofer research

Applied research conducted by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft strengthens companies’ capacity to innovate and reinforces Germany’s position as a center for industry. Various studies show that Fraunhofer’s contributions measurably improve the business success of its partners while helping to advance Germany’s role as a hub for industry and innovation.

Outstanding pre-competitive research

Strategic research fields
 

Forming the core focus of our research portfolio, the seven Fraunhofer strategic research fields aim to address needs and markets that will shape our future. Within these fields, our outstanding pre-competitive research specifically targets projects that have high commercial potential, thereby enhancing our impact on society and across multiple sectors. By pursuing the Fraunhofer strategic research fields, we aim to continuously strengthen the roles of Germany and Europe as key hubs of industry and innovation while fostering our technological sovereignty and promoting sustainable value creation.

Fraunhofer Venture: investments and spin-offs

Fraunhofer Venture was established to help translate research findings into real-world applications and to support the growing entrepreneurial drive across Fraunhofer’s institutes. Its mission is to transform promising innovations into successful spin-offs that create real economic value.

 

The Fraunhofer Academy: professional education

As the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s professional education and training provider, the Fraunhofer Academy supports specialists and executives at technology-driven companies in advancing their expertise. Its outstanding degree programs, certificate courses and seminars are grounded in the research of the Fraunhofer institutes and delivered in partnership with carefully selected, renowned universities and academic institutions.

 

Fraunhofer magazine
1/2026

Cover story: Energy? Of Course! | and much more 

Contacts for technical topics

Defence and Security


Caroline Schweitzer

Executive Secretary of the Fraunhofer Segment for Defense and Security VVS

Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation IOSB
Gutleuthausstrasse 1
76275 Ettlingen
Germany

Phone +49 7243 992-361

Send email

www.vvs.fraunhofer.de

 

Energy Technologies and Climate Protection

Central office of the Fraunhofer Group for Energy Technologies and Climate Protection

EUREF-Campus 23-24
10829 Berlin
Germany

Send email

Health Research

 

Otto Quintus Russe

Head of Central Office of the Fraunhofer Group for Health Research

Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP
Theodor Stern Kai 7/Haus 75
60596 Frankfurt am Main
Germany

Phone +49 69 6301 84900

Send email

www.itmp.fraunhofer.de

Information and Communication Technology

 

Alexander Nouak


Managing Director of the Fraunhofer ICT Group

Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 2
10178 Berlin
Germany

Phone +49 30 7261-5660

Send email

www.iuk.fraunhofer.de

 

Innovation Research

 

Sven Schimpf

Managing Director of the Fraunhofer Group for Innovation Research


Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO
Nobelstr. 12
70569 Stuttgart
Germany

Phone +49 711 970-2457

Send email

www.iao.fraunhofer.de

Light & Surfaces

 

Heinrich Stülpnagel

Managing Director of the Fraunhofer Group for Light & Surfaces

Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM
Georges-Köhler-Allee 301
79110 Freiburg
Germany

Phone +49 761 8857-269

Send email

www.light-and-surfaces.fraunhofer.de

 

 

Materials and Components

 

Ursula Eul

Managing Director of the Fraunhofer Group for Materials and Components – Materials

Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF
Bartningstrasse 47
64289 Darmstadt
Germany

Phone +49 6151 705-262

Send email

www.materials.fraunhofer.de

 

Microelectronics

 

Stephan Guttowski

Head of Central Office of the Fraunhofer Group for Microelectronics

Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Strasse 2
10178 Berlin
Germany

Phone +49 172 81 66 781

Send email

www.mikroelektronik.fraunhofer.de

 

Production

 

Niels Schmidtke

Head of Central Office of the Fraunhofer Group for Production


Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF
Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Str. 1
39106 Magdeburg
Germany

Phone +49 391 4090-568

Send email

www.produktion.fraunhofer.de

 

Resource Technologies and Bioeconomy

 

Hartmut Pflaum

Head of Central Office of the Fraunhofer Group for Resource Technologies and Bioeconomy


Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT
Osterfelder Strasse 3
46047 Oberhausen
Germany

Phone +49 208 8598-1171

Send email

www.umsicht.fraunhofer.de

Events and trade shows

  • Technology Campus Chemnitz / September 02, 2026 - September 03, 2026

    Test and Reliability between Ice and Fire: New Labs and Methods from 4 K up to 700 K.

    The Chemnitz Seminar offers you two days of outstanding presentations on reliability and testing methods under conditions ranging from cryogenic to high temperatures. Take advantage of this excellent platform for exchanging knowledge, discussing practical applications, and identifying future opportunities for collaboration.

    more info
  • Fraunhofer IKTS, Germany / September 16, 2026 - September 18, 2026

    International Symposium on Piezocomposite Applications ISPA

    ISPA is the leading international platform for piezoceramic composite technologies and their role in advancing component performance in extreme conditions and mission-critical applications. The 2026 year’s theme, "Where Frontiers Meet" highlights the intersection of pioneering materials and frontier applications — from orbit to ocean, from micro-sensing and actuation to structural health monitoring.

    more info
  • Berlin / September 22, 2026 - September 25, 2026

    Fraunhofer at the Innotrans 2026

    Under the theme “Innovations for Our Future,” experts from five Fraunhofer institutes will present the latest technologies and developments at Innotrans 2026 in Berlin from September 22 to 25.

    more info
  • The workshop will take place at the Fraunhofer Campus in Dresden. / September 29, 2026 - September 30, 2026, starting on September 29 at 13:00 (CET)

    Dry Coating Forum

    © Fraunhofer IWS

    Shaping the Future of Dry Battery Electrode Processing The Dry Coating Forum is a forum for material suppliers, equipment manufacturers, cell makers and end users to exchange information about current trends, developments and challenges in the field of dry coating technologies.

    more info
  • Berlin / September 30, 2026 - October 01, 2026

    FIRST by FMD | New Semiconductor Trend Forum for the Future of Europe

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    © Fraunhofer Mikroelektronik

    Europe is investing billions in expanding its semiconductor capabilities. But technological sovereignty isn’t achieved solely through new factories and funding programs—what matters most is how quickly innovations make their way from research to industrial applications. This is exactly where “FIRST by FMD” comes in. With this new European forum for decision-makers and trendsetters, the Research Factory for Microelectronics Germany (FMD) is bringing together leading representatives from industry, research, and politics. FIRST—Fast Innovation through Research in Semiconductor Technologies—will take place on September 30 and October 1, 2026, at the EUREF Campus in Berlin.

    more info
  • The workshop will take place at the Fraunhofer Campus in Dresden.  / November 10, 2026 - November 11, 2026

    13th Workshop “Lithium-Sulfur Batteries“

    © Fraunhofer IWS

    Lithium-sulfur batteries are envisaged to enable energy storage devices with high specific energy at low material cost. The recent research provides significant progress in terms of materials for active and passive cell components as well as on understanding of mechanisms finally leading to improved Li-S cell performance.

    more info
  • The event will be held online using Microsoft Teams third party software. / November 16, 2026

    2nd International LAwave User Meeting

    LAwave User Meeting 2024
    © Jürgen Jeibmann

    The 2nd International LAwave User Meeting is a virtual event that for the first time will bring together experts from the coating and material science community that are already benefitting from the LAwave technology and those who are interested in it.

    more info
  • Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS / November 23, 2026 - November 24, 2026

    European School for Young Materials Scientists

    The 2026 European School for Young Materials Scientists aims to bring together young scientists, mainly PhD students, working in the exciting fields of Materials Science, Electronic Materials, Quantum materials, Nanoscale Materials, Nanoanalysis, Multi-scale materials characterization, Computational material science, AI-based materials science as well as Microscopy.

    more info
  • B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering / November 25, 2026 - November 26, 2026

    6th Correlative Materials Characterization Workshop

    The CMC 2026 workshop will bring together communities from Materials, Electronics, Life and Computer Science, to discuss and explore topics of common interests.

    more info
  • Mannheim, Germany / December 08, 2026 - December 10, 2026

    Airbag 2026 - 17th International Symposium on Integral Car Safety Systems

    Schnittansicht eines Autolenkrads.
    © Fraunhofer ICT

    The Airbag Symposium features an impressive lineup of distinguished speakers who are leaders in the field of automotive safety and airbag technology. Their lectures cover a wide range of topics, providing valuable insights into the latest research, innovations, and trends. In addition to the keynote presentations, the symposium also showcases a variety of high-quality posters that highlight cutting-edge research and developments from both emerging talents and established experts. These posters offer a unique opportunity for attendees to engage with the content, ask questions, and discuss ideas directly with the authors. Together, the excellent speakers and innovative poster presentations create an enriching experience for all participants, fostering collaboration and inspiring new approaches to enhancing vehicle safety. Don't miss the chance to learn from the best in the industry and contribute to the important dialogue on airbag technology!

    more info