Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research

What Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research does

Fraunhofer ISC (Fraunhofer-Institut für Silicatforschung ISC) is a German non-profit applied research institute founded in 1926, headquartered in Würzburg, and operating as a constituent entity of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. The institute, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in April 2026, employs 501-1000 staff across primary locations in Würzburg (Neunerplatz 2, Friedrichstraße, Röntgenring) plus the Bayreuth HTL center and the Münchberg TFK application center, with a branch office in Bronnbach. Its purpose is to deliver materials science innovation across silicate-based materials, hybrid polymers, ceramics, glass, smart materials, and sol-gel technologies for industrial application.

The institute's core technology stack is anchored by the proprietary ORMOCER® (Organically Modified Ceramics) and bioORMOCER® platforms — hybrid polymers combining ceramic and organic-plastic properties, transparent, mechanically robust, temperature-stable beyond 250°C, and functionally adaptable for dental fillings, optical waveguides, scratch-resistant coatings, and gas-tight barrier coatings. Supporting technology infrastructure includes the Center of Device Development (CeDeD), which builds specialized measurement systems such as thermo-optical measuring (TOM) instruments up to 2400°C, the TensioTOM high-temperature tensiometer, the MediTOM automated 3D-cell-culture monitor, and AQUAJUST® CAM / AUTOJUST® CAM calibration systems. Operations are organized into specialized centers: TLZ-RT (regenerative therapies and 3D bioprinting), HTL (high-temperature lightweight construction), FZEB (electromobility/batteries), CeSMA (smart materials and adaptive systems), and TFK (textile fiber ceramics).

Fraunhofer ISC operates a professional services and contract research business model funded through direct commissions (Direktauftrag) from companies of any size, collaborative joint projects (Verbundprojekte), EU-funded programs (PHOENIX, ZeroF, StellarHeal, InnPressMe, Battery 2030+, RENOVATE), BMWK-funded initiatives (ZIM Innovation Network NanoBiotechnology), and German federal/state base funding as part of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Additional revenue streams include custom equipment development and sales via CeDeD, and analytical/testing services for production-accompanying characterization and pilot-scale upscaling. Pricing is quote-based per project; the institute also generates event revenue through conferences such as the Conference on Battery Direct Recycling (DRC) and the HighTex Workshop. Customer segments are explicitly diversified across Automotive (Brose), Medical Technology / Biotech / Pharma (WALA Heilmittel), Glass and Ceramics, Packaging and Consumer Goods (IPPM Technologies), and Electronics. Marketing is primarily conducted via a monthly LinkedIn newsletter, periodic email newsletters (3-4x annually), conference participation, annual reports, and press releases.

Name

Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research

Legal name

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.

Website

https://isc.fraunhofer.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Fraunhofer ISC is a German non-profit applied research institute (founded 1926, 501-1000 staff, Würzburg) specializing in silicate and hybrid polymer materials science, serving automotive, medical, energy, electronics, and packaging industries through contract research, publicly funded projects, and proprietary technologies such as ORMOCER® and bioORMOCER®.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Applied Materials Science Research Services

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services (BPAHAIAL)

Keywords

• Materials science research
• Silicate ceramics research
• Contract research services
• Hybrid polymer materials
• Applied materials engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Würzburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contract Research and Development: Direct commissioned research independent of company size, providing customized material solutions and development services for industrial partners.
2. Publicly Funded Research Projects: EU-funded projects (e.g., PHOENIX initiative, ZeroF, StellarHeal, InnPressMe), BMWK-funded projects (ZIM Innovation Network NanoBiotechnology), and other government research funding.
3. Equipment Development and Manufacturing: Custom scientific equipment and research facilities built by Center of Device Development (CeDeD) for material development and testing.
4. Analytical and Testing Services: Production-accompanying analytics and characterization services, process optimization, and pilot-scale upscaling of manufacturing processes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fraunhofer ISC conducts applied materials science research and development focused on silicate-based materials, hybrid polymers (ORMOCER®), ceramics, glass, smart materials, and sol-gel technologies. It sells contract R&D services, custom scientific equipment (TOM systems, TensioTOM, MediTOM, AQUAJUST® CAM), analytical and testing services, and licensed material platforms to industrial partners and public research consortia across automotive, medical, energy, electronics and packaging sectors.

Product overview

Fraunhofer ISC is a research institute offering material science expertise rather than a traditional product company. The portfolio includes ORMOCER® and bioORMOCER® branded hybrid polymer technologies (organically modified ceramics with customizable properties for coatings, dental, optical applications). Key product-equivalent offerings include TOM Systems for thermo-optical material characterization up to 2400°C, TensioTOM for high-temperature molten metal analysis, MediTOM for automated in-vitro tissue analysis, and calibration systems (AQUAJUST® CAM, AUTOJUST® CAM). The institute operates specialized centers: CeDeD for custom device development, HTL for high-temperature ceramic materials, TLZ-RT for regenerative therapies/bioprinting, FZEB for electromobility, and CeSMA for smart materials/sensors. Research spans battery materials, bioactive materials, ceramics, coatings, composites, electrochromic systems, fluor-free coatings, glass/glass-ceramics, particles, silicones, sol-gel materials, and digital transformation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ORMOCER®: Organically modified ceramics - hybrid polymer materials combining properties of ceramics and organic plastics, used in dental fillings, optical waveguides, scratch-resistant coatings, and barrier coatings
• bioORMOCER®
• CeDeD (Center of Device Development)
• TLZ-RT (Translationszentrum für Regenerative Therapien)
• HTL (Zentrum für Hochtemperatur-Leichtbau)
• CeSMA (Center Smart Materials and Adaptive Systems)
• AQUAJUST® CAM
• AUTOJUST® CAM
• TOM-Systeme (Thermo-optische Messanlagen)
• TensioTOM
• MediTOM

Products and services

• ORMOCER®

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy savings through optimized thermal processes using thermo-optical dilatometry and FE simulations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WALA Heilmittel GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Collaborative research partnership for developing novel conjunctival models enabling precise analysis of inflammatory processes of the eye surface. Research conducted at the Translational Center of Fraunhofer ISC, focusing on robust and scalable test systems for investigating active substances and complex pharmaceuticals under controlled but application-relevant conditions.
• IPPM TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partnership for biodegradable hair styling products, combining Fraunhofer ISC materials expertise with IPPM Technologies product development capabilities.
• BioM Biotech ClustercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZIM-Innovationsnetzwerk NanoBiotechnology network partnership for translation of nanobiotechnology into real applications. Focus areas include nanostructured biomaterials, cell-based systems, and innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. BMWK-funded initiative.
• Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer supports automotive supplier Brose in entering the space and satellite business sector, leveraging materials expertise for aerospace applications.
• University of Würzburg - Chair for Chemical Technology of Materials SynthesiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose integration with university chair under Prof. Dr. Miriam Unterlass (Director of ISC), providing fundamental research foundation for sustainable hybrid materials development including hydrothermal synthesis and solvothermal approaches.
• NetzschminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Conference on Battery Direct Recycling 2026
• Thermo Fisher ScientificminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Conference on Battery Direct Recycling 2026
• BYK-Chemie GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Conference on Battery Direct Recycling 2026
• TRUMPF SE + Co. KGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Conference on Battery Direct Recycling 2026
• Robert Bosch GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Conference on Battery Direct Recycling 2026
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.coreOthersFraunhofer ISC is a constituent entity of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, headquartered at Hansastraße 27c, 80686 München, Germany. Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft executive board includes Holger Hanselka (President), Constantin Häfner, Axel Müller-Groeling, Elisabeth Ewen, and Sandra Krey.
• EIT RawMaterialsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-funder of LFP Battery Recycling Workshop at DRC 2026
• Battery 2030+ InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean research initiative for batteries of the future, with Patrik Johansson succeeding as Director. Fraunhofer ISC participates in RENOVATE project under this initiative.
• PHOENIX Initiative ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded initiative developing self-repairing lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles to extend lifespan and improve safety, supporting Europe's zero-emission vehicle legislation by 2035.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fraunhofer IWS: Sister Fraunhofer institute for materials and beam technology in Dresden. Directly comparable as a German applied-research institute covering surface engineering, joining, and coating technologies with overlapping industry partners and EU funding programs.
• Fraunhofer IWM: Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials. Comparable applied-research mandate on materials characterization, lifetime modeling, and FE-simulation-based design — overlapping with ISC's analytical services and computational materials engineering.
• Fraunhofer IKTS: Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Sintered Materials. Most directly comparable on ceramics R&D, powder processing, and pilot-scale ceramic manufacturing — overlapping with ISC's HTL center and ORMOCER® inorganic-organic hybrid work.
• Fraunhofer LBF: Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability. Comparable on polymer engineering, durability testing, and structural materials — relevant peer for ISC's polymer/ORMOCER® and CeSMA smart materials activities.

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Scientific: Global leader in testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) services. Comparable to ISC's contract-research and analytical-services revenue stream at much greater scale, particularly relevant as ISC expands bioanalytical and battery-testing offerings.
• Bruker: Global analytical instrumentation company with strong materials-science and life-science portfolios. Comparable to ISC on advanced analytical instruments (NMR, mass spectrometry, X-ray) — competing for the same industrial research customer base.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global analytical instrument leader and conference sponsor. Comparable on laboratory analytical instruments, materials characterization, and life-science instrumentation — overlapping with ISC's MediTOM and broader analytics portfolio at a much larger scale.
• Netzsch: Established German manufacturer of thermal analysis instruments and a sponsor of ISC's DRC 2026 conference. Directly comparable for high-temperature thermal analysis equipment competing with ISC's TOM/TensioTOM systems, though Netzsch is a broader industrial incumbent.

Emerging players

• BYK-Chemie: Specialty coatings additives manufacturer (part of ALTANA) and DRC conference sponsor. Adjacent to ISC's ORMOCER® coatings work — overlapping on functional coatings R&D though focused on additives rather than hybrid polymer systems.

Others

• TÜV Rheinland: Global TIC services provider with materials testing and certification capabilities. Tangentially comparable for industrial testing/inspection services competing with portions of ISC's contract analytical services, though not a research institute.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fraunhofer-isc
• Xx.com/Fraunhofer_ISC
• Facebookfacebook.com/FraunhoferISCWuerzburgZellerau

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research