Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is Europe's largest application-oriented research organisation, founded in 1949 and headquartered in Munich, Germany. It operates 75 institutes and research units with approximately 32,000 employees, the majority of whom are scientists and engineers. The organisation conducts contract research for industry and government, positioning its work between basic research and practical application. Alongside its research activities, it supports technology spinouts through venture-building programs.

Its commercial model, termed the Fraunhofer Model, combines contract research with publicly funded research projects. Annual budget exceeds €3.6 billion, of which roughly two-thirds derives from industrial contracts and publicly funded projects. Technical coverage spans microelectronics, information and communications technology, life sciences, materials science, energy technology, medical technology and social sciences, with work also undertaken for the government and public sector.

Geographic presence extends from Germany to the United States and the United Kingdom. Partnerships are maintained with universities, industry participants and government agencies internationally. The organisation is named after the researcher Joseph von Fraunhofer.