Fraunhofer IKTS
Fraunhofer IKTS is a German non-profit applied research institute within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft network, conducting pilot-scale R&D on advanced ceramic materials, batteries, hydrogen technologies, non-destructive testing, and water systems for industrial partners including CATL, thyssenkrupp nucera, Hyundai, and Salzgitter.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersDresden, Germany
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Fraunhofer IKTS does
Fraunhofer IKTS (Fraunhofer-Institut für Keramische Technologien und Systeme) is a non-profit applied research institute within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft network, conducting research on advanced ceramic materials, ceramic processing, characterization methods, and system integration. Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Dresden with additional sites in Hermsdorf, Arnstadt, Freiberg, and Forchheim, the institute operates at pilot scale, bridging laboratory research and commercial production across nine business divisions covering energy, electronics, medical technology, water, environmental engineering, materials, non-destructive testing, and mechanical/automotive engineering.
The institute's technology portfolio includes proprietary platforms such as CERENERGY ceramic solid-state batteries (sodium-nickel chloride chemistry for stationary storage), PERLUCOR transparent ceramics, RECOSiC silicon carbide recycling, COMOBASE modular acoustic emission monitoring systems, PCUS pro-LAB non-destructive testing software, and autartec water treatment systems. It has also developed high-temperature electrolysis (SOEC) stacks for green hydrogen production in partnership with thyssenkrupp nucera, with a pilot manufacturing plant opened in May 2025.
Fraunhofer IKTS generates revenue through four streams: German federal and state public research funding, direct industry R&D contracts, technology licensing, and EU-funded research projects such as the 40M EUR CARE-O-SENE sustainable kerosene initiative. Its customer base spans named enterprise clients including CATL, thyssenkrupp nucera, Salzgitter, and Hyundai, alongside broader industrial partners across battery, hydrogen, steel, automotive, medical, and water sectors. As part of the Fraunhofer Society, it does not pursue venture-style equity funding and operates on a contract-research model where intellectual property and licensing structures vary by partner.
Fraunhofer IKTS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fraunhofer IKTS
- Legal name
- Fraunhofer-Institut für Keramische Technologien und Systeme IKTS
- Website
- https://ikts.fraunhofer.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Fraunhofer IKTS is a German non-profit applied research institute within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft network, conducting pilot-scale R&D on advanced ceramic materials, batteries, hydrogen technologies, non-destructive testing, and water systems for industrial partners including CATL, thyssenkrupp nucera, Hyundai, and Salzgitter.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fraunhofer IKTS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Advanced Ceramics Research and Industrial R&D Services
- NAICS
- Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Engineering Services (541330), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Test, Measurement & Calibration Equipment Manufacturing Services (ATE, DAQ, metrology electronics) (IMAGAGAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Electronics & Enclosure Prototyping (Additive) (IMAAAFAH), Reliability, Safety & Risk Engineering (RAMS/PSM) Consulting (BPAHAIAK)
Keywords
Where Fraunhofer IKTS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dresden
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Fraunhofer IKTS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Publicly Funded Research: Fraunhofer IKTS receives significant funding from German federal and state governments as part of the Fraunhofer Society network, supporting basic and applied research programs.
- Industry R&D Contracts: Direct contract research and development services for industrial partners, including technology development, characterization, testing, and consulting services.
- Technology Licensing: Licensing of developed technologies and processes to industrial partners for commercialization.
- EU Research Projects: Participation in European Union funded research programs including Horizon Europe and other collaborative research initiatives.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Fraunhofer IKTS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fraunhofer IKTS conducts application-oriented research in advanced ceramic materials, manufacturing processes, and systems, developing prototype components and pilot-scale production lines for industrial partners. It offers R&D contract services, materials characterization and non-destructive testing, technology licensing, and branded product lines (e.g., CERENERGY, PERLUCOR, RECOSiC, PCUS pro-LAB, COMOBASE, autartec) across nine business divisions covering energy, medical, electronics, environmental, water, and mechanical engineering applications.
Product overview
Fraunhofer IKTS is a research institute offering applied research services and technologies across ceramic technologies and systems. The organization operates nine business divisions: Bio- and Medical Technology, Electronics and Microsystems, Energy, Environmental and Process Engineering, Materials and Processes, Materials and Process Analysis, Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Non-Destructive Testing and Monitoring, and Water. Key product offerings include PCUS pro-LAB software for ultrasonic testing, COMOBASE acoustic emission monitoring systems, cerenergy ceramic solid-state batteries, PERLUCOR transparent ceramics, autartec water treatment systems, and RECOSiC silicon carbide recycling technology. The institute provides research and technology services, developing modern ceramic high-performance materials, industry-relevant manufacturing processes, and prototype components and systems up to pilot scale, along with materials diagnostics and testing services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PCUS pro-LAB
- COMOBASE / COMOBASE 3
- cerenergy
- PERLUCOR
- autartec
- RECOSiC
- Software für Prüfsysteme (NDT Software Suite)
- Contract R&D and Pilot-Scale Manufacturing Services
Quantifiable outcome
- CO2 emissions in steel production reduced from 100% to 5% through new technologies
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Fraunhofer IKTS
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fraunhofer IKTS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability8 records
Feature10 records
Fraunhofer IKTS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Kongju National UniversitycoreJoint R&D platform establishment as part of glocal university project with Chungnam National University. Discussions at EKC 2026 conference in Toulouse covered professor-student exchanges, international joint research, global research projects, joint utilization of research infrastructure, and global research hub center establishment.
- Chungnam National UniversitycoreJoint glocal university project partner for establishing Fraunhofer-type joint R&D platform with Kongju National University in South Korea.
- K-FASTcoreKorean partner organization involved in discussions for establishing joint R&D platform and global research hub center with Kongju National University.
- thyssenkrupp nuceracoreStrategic partnership in SOEC (Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell) technology. First SOEC pilot manufacturing facility for stacks opened in May 2025. Partnership focuses on industrialization of high-temperature electrolysis for green hydrogen production. Fraunhofer IKTS brings research expertise, thyssenkrupp nucera provides industrial scaling capability.
- CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology)coreHigh-end test center cooperation for long-lasting batteries. CATL and Fraunhofer IKTS expanded collaboration for battery testing and development services.
- HyundaicoreResearch partnership for sustainable shipping and energy. Cooperation with Hyundai Heavy Industries/Hyundai Korea Shipbuilding.
- ECU (Edith Cowan University)corePartnership to launch Western Australia's first research and innovation lab. Opened February 2025.
- TU9 UniversitiesminorAcademic network partnerships with German technical universities for research collaboration.
- ERC (European Research Council)minorERC Synergy Grant 4D+ nanoSCOPE project for osteoporosis research in collaboration with University Hospital Erlangen and FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg.
- TRIDELTA CAMPUS Hermsdorf PartnerscoreRegional innovation cluster at Hermsdorf including SAPHIR high-performance ceramics alliance (12.7M EUR funding), with multiple industrial partners focused on advanced ceramics development.
- TIPA (Korean Project Management Agency)coreCooperation agreement with Korean project management agency TIPA for research funding coordination.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Fraunhofer IKTS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Corning Incorporated: Global specialty glass and ceramics company with strong R&D in materials science, including transparent ceramics and high-performance substrates. Comparable in advanced transparent and specialty ceramics as well as materials characterization capabilities for industrial customers.
- Forschungszentrum Jülich: Large German research center with strong programs in energy (including hydrogen and SOEC electrolysis), materials science, and battery research. Comparable as a publicly funded German research organization conducting applied R&D in overlapping technology areas, especially SOEC stacks and stationary energy storage.
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT): Major German research and teaching institution combining university and large-scale applied research, with strong programs in energy (hydrogen, batteries), materials science, and process engineering. Comparable in applied research portfolio, hydrogen/battery focus, and German public-research status.
- Fraunhofer IFAM: Another Fraunhofer Society institute focused on advanced materials and manufacturing processes, including shaping, joining, and surface technology. Highly comparable as a sibling applied-research institute operating under the same funding model and serving overlapping industrial partners in ceramics and materials characterization.
- Saint-Gobain Research Provence: Industrial R&D arm of Saint-Gobain covering ceramics, glass, and building materials. Comparable as a large industrial research organization with overlapping materials science capabilities and similar focus on high-performance ceramics for industrial and construction applications.
Direct peers
- CeramTec: Industrial manufacturer of advanced technical ceramics including oxide and non-oxide ceramics for electronics, medical, and automotive applications. Comparable as a specialist in technical/industrial ceramics with overlapping product categories such as transparent ceramics, structural ceramics, and ceramic components.
- Olympus Industrial (Evident): Manufacturer of ultrasonic, eddy current, phased-array, and other non-destructive testing instruments and software. Comparable as a direct competitor in industrial NDT equipment, where Fraunhofer IKTS sells PCUS pro-LAB software and ultrasonic testing systems for similar end customers.
- CoorsTek: Global manufacturer of engineered technical ceramics serving semiconductors, medical, aerospace, and energy markets. Comparable in advanced ceramic materials and components, particularly for industrial applications, with overlapping customer segments and technology focus.
Emerging players
- Solid Power: Developer of solid-state battery technology primarily for automotive applications. Comparable as an emerging player in solid-state battery R&D, an area where Fraunhofer IKTS has its CERENERGY ceramic solid-state battery program; both target next-generation stationary and mobile storage.
Regional players
- CSIRO: Australia's national science agency with applied research in advanced materials, hydrogen, and energy storage. Comparable as a publicly funded applied research institution; regional overlap given Fraunhofer IKTS's Western Australia partnership with Edith Cowan University.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fraunhofer IKTS social profiles
Digital presenceFraunhofer IKTS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Fraunhofer IKTS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fraunhofer IKTS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Fraunhofer IKTS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fraunhofer IKTS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fraunhofer IKTS
What does Fraunhofer IKTS do?
Fraunhofer IKTS conducts application-oriented research in advanced ceramic materials, manufacturing processes, and systems, developing prototype components and pilot-scale production lines for industrial partners. It offers R&D contract services, materials characterization and non-destructive testing, technology licensing, and branded product lines (e.g., CERENERGY, PERLUCOR, RECOSiC, PCUS pro-LAB, COMOBASE, autartec) across nine business divisions covering energy, medical, electronics, environmental, water, and mechanical engineering applications.
Is Fraunhofer IKTS a public or private company?
Fraunhofer IKTS is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fraunhofer IKTS founded?
Fraunhofer IKTS was founded in 1992. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Fraunhofer IKTS based?
Fraunhofer IKTS is headquartered in Dresden, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Fraunhofer IKTS make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Publicly Funded Research is the primary driver. The others are industry R&D Contracts, technology Licensing and EU Research Projects.
Who are Fraunhofer IKTS's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Corning Incorporated, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Fraunhofer IFAM and Saint-Gobain Research Provence. Direct peers are CeramTec, Olympus Industrial (Evident) and CoorsTek. Solid Power is listed as an emerging player. CSIRO is listed as a regional player.
Does Fraunhofer IKTS have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fraunhofer IKTS.
What industry is Fraunhofer IKTS in?
Fraunhofer IKTS's product category is Advanced Ceramics Research and Industrial R&D Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAGAH, Test, Measurement & Calibration Equipment Manufacturing Services (ATE, DAQ, metrology electronics), with a secondary code of IMAAAFAH, Electronics & Enclosure Prototyping (Additive). Its NAICS code is 334513 and its SIC code is 3823.