Fogra Research Institute for Media Technologies

What Fogra Research Institute for Media Technologies does

Fogra Research Institute for Media Technologies (Fogra Forschungsinstitut für Medientechnologien e.V.) is a German non-profit research institute founded in 1951 and headquartered in Aschheim bei München. It operates as the principal scientific authority on process standardization for the printing and media industry, conducting applied research, laboratory testing, and third-party certification across prepress, offset printing, digital printing, flexographic/packaging printing, finishing, printing consumables, and security applications such as smart cards and identity documents.

The institute's commercial core is the FograCert certification program and three process standards — ProzessStandard Offsetdruck (PSO, the basis for ISO 12647), ProzessStandard Digitaldruck (PSD), and the newly launched ProzessStandard Flexodruck (PSF) — each accompanied by a multi-tiered certification portfolio (PrintCheck, Colour Data, Professional, Partner, Basic variants). Supporting products include proprietary control media (Medienkeil CMYK V3, Multicolor, 3D-Scan, Textile RGB), specialized test devices (FIWI, LHT, WIKAT, ACET), and consumables certifications for washing agents, fountain solutions, wash cloths, underpacking papers, and printing inks issued in cooperation with major press OEMs.

Fogra monetizes through six revenue streams: certification fees (typically €500-€9,832 per action, with 5-10 year validity), testing and laboratory services, annual membership dues (~€1,573 for small companies, with ~20-30% service discounts), training via the Fogra Academy and Web Academy, industry symposia (Colour Management Symposium, UV-Druck Symposium, Digitaldruck trifft Offset), and an e-commerce shop for control elements and publications. The customer base spans 300+ PSO-certified print shops, 775 certified washing agents from 40 countries, 450 certified fountain solutions from 30 countries, and members in more than 50 countries, with key institutional partners including ISO TC 130, ICC, DIN, ZUSE-Gemeinschaft, AiF, and the German printing industry association.

Name

Fogra Research Institute for Media Technologies

Legal name

Fogra Forschungsinstitut für Medientechnologien e.V.

Website

https://fogra.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fogra is a German non-profit research institute (founded 1951) that develops ISO-aligned process standards and provides third-party testing and certification services for the global printing, packaging, and media technology industry. It serves print shops, press OEMs, and consumables manufacturers across 50+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dornach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Certification Services: FograCert certification program for companies, products, and individuals. Includes PSO, PSD, PSF certifications for printing companies, and certifications for materials (washing agents, fountain solutions, wash cloths, underpacking papers).
2. Testing and Examination Services: Testing services for printing processes, materials, colour management, and security applications. Covers prepress, offset printing, digital printing, packaging, materials and environment, and security applications.
3. Membership Dues: Annual membership providing access to Fogra specialists, discounts on services and products, and opportunity to influence industry standards.
4. Training and Education: Fogra Academy and Web Academy offering courses in colour management, print production, finishing, and AI. Includes online and in-person training sessions.
5. Events and Symposia: Industry events including UV Printing Symposium, Colour Management Symposium, and Digital Printing meets Offset.
6. Shop Products: Sale of control elements (media wedges, transparency strips), test equipment, and publications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fogra Research Institute for Media Technologies is a non-profit research institute that develops process standards, conducts laboratory testing, and certifies companies, products, and individuals for the printing, prepress, finishing, packaging, materials, and security applications industries. Its core offerings include the ProzessStandard Offsetdruck (PSO), ProzessStandard Digitaldruck (PSD), and ProzessStandard Flexodruck (PSF) certification programs, the FograCert program for materials and processes, and supporting training and research services.

Product overview

Fogra Research Institute for Media Technologies offers a comprehensive portfolio of process standards and certification services for the printing and media industry. The core offerings include the ProzessStandard Offsetdruck (PSO) based on ISO 12647, ProzessStandard Digitaldruck (PSD) for digital printing, and the newer ProzessStandard Flexodruck (PSF) for flexographic packaging printing. These are supported by the FograCert certification program covering materials, products, and production processes. The portfolio includes specialized control media (Medienkeil CMYK V3, Multicolor, 3D-Scan, Textile RGB), test equipment (FIWI, LHT, WIKAT, ACET devices), and proof-related certifications (Contract Proof Creation, Softproof Monitor). Training is delivered through the Fogra Web Academy and professional events including the Colour Management Symposium and Digitaldruck trifft Offset. The institute also certifies printing supplies (washing agents, fountain concentrates, wash cloths, underpacking papers) and offers energy efficiency testing according to ISO 20690.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PSO: ProcessStandard Offsetdruck - certification for offset printing quality standards
• PSD
• PSF
• FograCert
• Fogra Web Academy

Products and services

• ProzessStandard Offsetdruck (PSO) Certification International certification for offset printing based on ISO 12647, providing defined rules and tolerances for color-safe printing production across sheet-fed and web offset processes, serving printing companies.
• ProzessStandard Digitaldruck (PSD) Certification Process standard certification for digital printing providing recommendations, guidelines, target values, and tolerances for industrial digital print production, serving digital print service providers.
• ProzessStandard Flexodruck (PSF) Certification Process standard certification for flexographic printing in the packaging industry, providing standardized procedures and quality assurance, serving packaging printers and converters.
• FograCert Certification Program Comprehensive standardized certification program covering materials, products, and production processes across the printing industry, ensuring quality, safety, and reliability for manufacturers and print service providers.
• Energy Efficiency Certification (ISO 20690) Certification for energy efficiency of printing machines based on ISO 20690, allowing manufacturer-independent and transparent energy efficiency measurement, serving printing machine manufacturers and operators.
• Washing Agent Approval Certification Approval testing and certification for washing agents used in automatic washing systems of printing presses, serving washing agent manufacturers and validating compatibility with press manufacturers including Heidelberger, Koenig & Bauer, manroland, and Baldwin.
• Fountain Concentrate Approval Approval testing and certification for fountain solution concentrates used in offset printing, with corrosion and polymer swell testing developed in collaboration with German press manufacturers, serving fountain concentrate manufacturers.
• Fogra Web Academy Online training platform offering courses on color management, print production, finishing, and AI for printing industry professionals, with company flat-rate subscription options.
• Fogra Research Program Annual applied research program addressing industry challenges across prepress, offset printing, digital printing, packaging and finishing, materials and environment, and security applications, serving the printing industry through funded research projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Color-safe printing production through standardized processes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ZUSE-GemeinschaftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in ZUSE-Gemeinschaft, an association of research institutions focused on digital transformation and sustainability.
• AiF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in AiF, a German industrial research association providing funding support for joint research projects.
• ICC (International Color Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in ICC, the international body responsible for color standards and interoperability in color management systems.
• DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in DIN, the German national standards organization. Fogra actively participates in standardization committees.
• ISO TC 130 (Graphic Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive participation in ISO technical committee for graphic technology. Two Fogra employees lead working groups of TC 130.
• Bundesverband Druck und Medien e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the German printing industry association in developing the ProcessStandard Offsetdruck (PSO), which later became the basis for ISO 12647.
• Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AGcoreTechnology or IntegrationMachine manufacturer partner for washing agent and fountain solution approval testing. Authorizes certifications for use with Heidelberg printing presses.
• Koenig & Bauer AGcoreTechnology or IntegrationMachine manufacturer partner (including Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed AG, Koenig & Bauer Digital & Webfed AG) for washing agent and fountain solution approval.
• manroland sheetfed GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationMachine manufacturer partner for washing agent and fountain solution approval for sheet-fed printing presses.
• manrolandGoss web systems GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationMachine manufacturer partner for washing agent and fountain solution approval for web offset printing presses.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Fogra_org

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fogra Research Institute for Media Technologies