Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI

What Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI does

Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI is a non-profit applied research institute headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany, operating as a legally non-independent constituent entity of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. Founded in 1971, the institute conducts interdisciplinary research on the emergence and impact of innovations across scientific, economic, ecological, social, organizational, legal, and political dimensions, organized into nine departments and more than thirty business units and research groups. Its portfolio includes long-running survey instruments (German Manufacturing Survey since 1995 with approximately 1,300 companies, now expanded into the European Manufacturing Survey), technology-assessment and foresight processes, energy system models, the eQsystem quantum-computing ecosystem platform, a four-year doctoral program with roughly 60 researchers, and the Joint Innovation Hub at Heilbronn.

Fraunhofer ISI serves three primary customer segments: government and policy makers (German federal ministries, the European Commission, Austrian federal ministries) seeking scientifically grounded policy advice, program evaluations, and technology assessments; industry and business clients seeking strategic consulting on innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability transitions; and the scientific community, including a structured doctoral program and joint research with Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and other academic partners. Service delivery is sales-led through direct project-based consulting engagements rather than through packaged product distribution.

Revenue is generated through three streams: institutional public research funding channeled via Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft from German federal and state governments, fee-for-service industry consulting contracts, and professional-services policy advisory contracts with ministries and the European Commission. Pricing is negotiated on a project-by-project basis and is not publicly disclosed. The institute's distribution relies on direct enterprise/government client engagement, complemented by content marketing through its website, policy briefs, newsletters, events, and social channels. Partnerships with Bertelsmann Stiftung, ICCT, FFG, DERA, Fraunhofer IOF, and KIT underpin recurring research programs.

Name

Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI

Legal name

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

Website

https://isi.fraunhofer.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Fraunhofer ISI is a non-profit applied research institute in Karlsruhe, Germany, part of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, delivering interdisciplinary scientific analysis of innovation, technology, and policy for government, industry, and academic clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research and Innovation Consulting

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ), Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA), Due Diligence & Investigative Research (BPAHALAI), ESG & Sustainability Research (FSACAGAH)

Keywords

• Systems and innovation research
• Technology assessment
• Policy advisory services
• Foresight consulting
• Applied research

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlsruhe

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: As a constituent entity of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the institute receives public funding for applied research. Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is a non-profit research organization funded by federal and state governments.
2. Industry Consulting Contracts: Fee-for-service consulting and research contracts with industrial clients on strategic corporate decisions, technology innovation, and competitiveness matters
3. Policy Advisory Services: Scientific policy advice and consulting for government ministries and public institutions on science, technology and innovation policy

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fraunhofer ISI conducts interdisciplinary applied research on the emergence and impact of innovations across scientific, economic, ecological, social, organizational, legal, and political dimensions. The institute provides scientifically-based strategic advisory services, technology assessments, foresight processes, energy system modeling, and policy advice to decision-makers in business, science, and politics, organized across nine departments and more than 30 business units and research groups.

Product overview

Fraunhofer ISI operates as a research institute rather than a product company, offering a portfolio of research services, surveys, platforms, and consulting services. The core offerings include scientific research and analysis (Policy Briefs, research publications), major survey instruments (German Manufacturing Survey since 1995 and its European expansion), the eQsystem quantum computing platform, energy system modeling tools, a doctoral program for approximately 60 researchers, and the Joint Innovation Hub for applied innovation projects. The institute provides policy advice, technology assessment, and strategic consulting services to businesses, politics, and scientific institutions across nine departments with over 30 business units and research groups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Policy Briefs (Perspektiven) Short policy briefs providing scientific analysis and policy recommendations on topics including batteries for electric vehicles, CO2-neutral process heat, carbon capture, systemic resilience, mission-oriented innovation policy, hydrogen imports, and technology sovereignty. Target audience: policymakers, ministries, public institutions, and industry stakeholders.
• German Manufacturing Survey Germany's broadest survey of modernization trends in the manufacturing industry, conducted regularly since 1995 with a representative sample of approximately 1,300 companies providing data on innovation indicators, organizational concepts, and business models. For industry clients, policymakers, and researchers.
• European Manufacturing Survey International expansion of the German Manufacturing Survey with partners in European comparative countries, providing international comparative data on manufacturing modernization and innovation trends. For industry clients, policymakers, and researchers.
• eQsystem Digital platform mapping actors in quantum computing in Germany and their interconnections, making relationships visible for experts and stakeholders in the quantum computing ecosystem. For quantum computing experts, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.
• Energy System Models Sophisticated models for analyzing and forecasting energy systems, used by the Energy Policy and Energy Markets department for strategic analysis of sustainable energy transitions. For energy policymakers, ministries, and energy market participants.
• Doctoral Program Four-year doctoral program with approximately 60 young scientists working on dissertations at the interface between technology, business, and society, consisting of a one-year orientation phase and three-year dissertation phase. For early-career researchers.
• Joint Innovation Hub Innovation hub for co-creating sustainable solutions with clients from business, public institutions, and society, operating from the Heilbronn location. For corporate clients, public institutions, and societal stakeholders.
• Foresight Processes Development, design, and accompaniment of foresight processes for businesses, politics, and society to anticipate and shape future developments. For corporate strategy teams, policy makers, and societal stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• German Manufacturing Survey covering representative sample of around 1,300 companies with data since 1995
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose thematic and personnel links with KIT through joint research initiatives. Professor Jakob Edler holds the KIT professorship 'Governance transformativer Innovation', strengthening collaboration between the two institutions.
• Fraunhofer-GesellschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer ISI is a constituent entity of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., accessing the network of 76 Fraunhofer institutes for collaborations and shared resources.
• Bertelsmann StiftungmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research on mission-oriented innovation policies, with multiple joint publications including 'Mission Possible' papers and studies on transforming Germany through mission agencies.
• Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvaluation of Austrian research funding organizations FFG and aws for Austrian ministries bmvit and bmwfw.
• ICCT (International Council on Clean Transportation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint study with ICCT on electric vehicle prices in Germany, analyzing over 100,000 data points from ADAC database covering six vehicle segments.
• Deutsche Rohstoffagentur (DERA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative study 'Rohstoffe für Zukunftstechnologien' analyzing 34 technologies and 14 raw materials for future supply chain needs.
• HIC ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project with HIC Consulting for Hamburg's Behörde für Umwelt, Klima, Energie und Agrarwirtschaft on flexible energy procurement for industrial companies.
• Fraunhofer IOFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint implementation of the O-PEN project on quantum communication security, including the Quantum Hackathon event and 'Eve on a Mission' online game.
• Deutsche Rohstoffagentur (DERA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer ISI and IZM collaborating on DERA-commissioned study analyzing future raw material needs for 34 technologies including electromobility, energy transition, and AI.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch national applied research organization delivering contract research, policy advice, and innovation programs across energy, industry, and society. Closely mirrors Fraunhofer ISI's public-funder-plus-industry-contract model and interdisciplinary structure.
• WIFO (Austrian Institute of Economic Research): Austria's leading economic research institute providing economic analysis, forecasts, and policy advice to government and industry. Comparable as a public-interest economic and innovation research institute serving federal ministries on commissioned evaluations.
• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden: Sweden's merged applied-research institute combining multiple former R&D bodies into a single innovation-focused organization. Comparable in offering applied research, policy support, and industry collaboration across energy, materials, and mobility.
• Fraunhofer IAO: Sister institute within Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft focused on industrial engineering, organizational design, and innovation management. Highly comparable as a fellow Fraunhofer applied-research institute serving German industry and ministries on innovation and transformation topics.
• Ifo Institute (Leibniz Institute for Economic Research): Munich-based economic research institute famous for the ifo Business Climate Index, conducting survey-based economic research and policy advice. Comparable in longitudinal survey methodology, German policy clientele, and reputation for independent analysis.
• Fraunhofer IMW (Center for International Management and Economics of Knowledge): Leipzig-based Fraunhofer institute focused on innovation economics, knowledge transfer, and cultural economics. Closely comparable as a sister institute working on innovation systems analysis, evaluation, and transfer research.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's national applied research organization with similar multi-domain R&D, policy advisory, and industry contract research model. Comparable in mission, funding mix (public plus contract), and customer segments across energy, manufacturing, and innovation policy.
• SINTEF: Norway's largest independent research organization, conducting contract R&D for industry and public sector across technology, energy, and society. Comparable in interdisciplinary applied research, contract-based funding, and policy advisory work.

Emerging players

• Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies: Specialized foresight and futures research consultancy serving European governments, regions, and corporates. Comparable as a foresight methodology provider that competes for some of the same strategic-foresight mandates ISI addresses.

Broad incumbents

• RAND Corporation: Global nonprofit policy research organization providing independent research and analysis to governments and foundations. Comparable in mission of evidence-based policy advice, evaluation studies, and large-scale survey research, though broader in topic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fraunhoferisi

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI