Fraunhofer IIS

What Fraunhofer IIS does

Fraunhofer IIS (Fraunhofer-Institut für Integrierte Schaltungen) is one of the flagship institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Germany's largest applied research organization. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Erlangen, Fraunhofer IIS specializes in integrated circuits, sensor systems, digital services, and image processing, and operates as part of a 76-institute network with approximately 29,000 researchers across Germany plus international offices in Brussels, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Boston, São José dos Campos, and Stellenbosch. The institute is part of a broader portfolio that spans seven strategic research fields: bioeconomy, intelligent medicine, artificial intelligence, next-generation computing, quantum technologies, resource efficiency and climate technologies, and hydrogen technologies.

The underlying technology portfolio includes world-record technical achievements such as 31.6% efficiency for scalable perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells (Fraunhofer ISE), 15.8% efficiency for organic solar cells, the largest vanadium redox flow battery in Europe, and the International Data Spaces framework for sovereign data exchange. Fraunhofer IIS's core IP sits in microelectronics, audio coding (notably the mp3 codec legacy), communications, and sensor systems. Notable proprietary initiatives include the 39-institute Fraunhofer Hydrogen Network with approximately 750 FTE, the IBM commercial quantum computing partnership, and the Fraunhofer Match platform (match.fraunhofer.de) that channels inquiries across all 76 institutes.

The business model is a non-profit applied research model. Revenue streams comprise (1) base institutional funding from German federal and state governments, (2) industry-funded contract research and technology transfer, and (3) technology licensing of patents and know-how. Pricing is project-based and quote-based; no public catalog pricing exists. Go-to-market is direct-to-client through bilateral research collaborations, regional Leistungszentren (performance centers), and the Fraunhofer Academy for professional training. Customer segments are diversified across industrial companies, SMEs, and government/public sector entities, with named flagship clients including thyssenkrupp, Salzgitter AG, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Airbus, and Hafenbetrieb Rotterdam.

Name

Fraunhofer IIS

Legal name

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

Website

https://fraunhofer.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Fraunhofer IIS is a German applied research institute specializing in integrated circuits, sensor systems, and digital services, operating as one of 76 institutes within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft non-profit network of approximately 29,000 researchers serving industry, SMEs, and government.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Applied Research Services

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Machine Vision & Optical Sensing (Cameras, 3D vision, LiDAR, illumination) (IMAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Test, Measurement & Calibration Equipment Manufacturing Services (ATE, DAQ, metrology electronics) (IMAGAGAH), Embedded & HMI Electronics Manufacturing (Industrial PCs, HMIs, Panel PCs) (IMAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Applied research services
• Microelectronics development
• Audio codec technology
• Sensor system engineering
• Technology licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Erlangen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding (Base Funding): Core funding from German federal and state governments as a mission-oriented applied research organization
2. Contract Research: Industry-funded R&D projects, technology transfer services, and contract research for commercial clients
3. Technology Licensing: Licensing of developed technologies, patents, and know-how to industry partners

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fraunhofer IIS conducts applied research on microelectronic and IT system solutions including audio, communications, sensing, and imaging technologies. It delivers contract research, technology transfer, and licensing of patents and know-how to industrial companies, SMEs, and government clients across Germany and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fraunhofer IIS: Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits - specializes in electronic components, sensor systems, digital services, and image processing.
• Fraunhofer ISE

Products and services

• Contract Research and Applied R&D Services Industry-funded R&D projects, technology transfer services, and contract research collaborations addressing applied research needs across audio, communications, sensing, imaging, and microelectronics for industrial and government clients.
• Technology Licensing and Patent Exploitation Licensing of developed technologies, patents, and know-how to commercial industry partners, enabling technology transfer from research to commercial application.
• Fraunhofer Academy Training Programs Professional education and training programs including hydrogen technology certifications and other specialized continuing education for industry professionals and researchers.
• Fraunhofer Match Platform Services Central digital platform (match.fraunhofer.de) connecting research inquiries from clients with appropriate institute expertise across 76 Fraunhofer institutes, serving as the gateway to Fraunhofer's research capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 31.6% efficiency achieved for scalable perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells (world record)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• IBMcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Fraunhofer brought together with IBM to establish the first commercial quantum computer as an open research platform in Europe, advancing applied quantum computing research in Germany
• thyssenkruppcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint coordination of Carbon2Chem project using CO2/H2 or CO/CO2/H2 mixtures for methanol production, demonstrating industrial carbon capture utilization
• Salzgitter AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on hydrogen-based crude steel production (SALCOS project) to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 95% compared to conventional blast furnace route
• Hafenbetrieb RotterdamstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLetter of Intent signed for hydrogen import logistics from Australia via Rotterdam port to Germany
• BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment funding partner for hydrogen flagship projects including H2Mare, H2Giga, TransHyDE with combined funding exceeding hundreds of millions of euros
• BMWK (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for Plattform Industrie 4.0 and industrial AI standardization initiatives
• AirbuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLOKI-PED project investigating safety risks of portable electronic devices in aircraft cabins
• Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy ConversionstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Carbon2Chem research consortium on sustainable methanol production from industrial gases
• Nationaler Wasserstoffrat (National Hydrogen Council)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned for hydrogen metastudy and strategic agenda development for European hydrogen economy
• International Energy Agency (IEA)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in TCP Hydrogen technology collaboration program
• Texulting GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHyTrA project partner for Hydrogen Tryout Areal in South Africa
• CAURUS Technologies GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of learning systems for precision wildfire fighting from air

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CSIC (Spanish National Research Council): Spain's largest public research institution, the third-largest in Europe. Comparable in operating model and size to Fraunhofer, with overlapping focus on materials, energy, and applied sciences, and similar reliance on national and EU project funding.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's applied research center with ~2,300 staff operating under a contract-research and licensing model. Comparable in scale and structure to a single large Fraunhofer institute, with overlapping focus on energy, materials, and digital technologies.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: US-based non-profit applied science and technology organization with ~30,000 staff and ~$10B in annual R&D spend. Closest US analog to Fraunhofer: contract research, technology licensing, and large-scale government/industry R&D partnerships across energy, defense, and life sciences.
• Helmholtz Association: Germany's largest scientific organization with 18 research centers and ~46,000 staff focused on big-science and energy research. Direct overlap with Fraunhofer on hydrogen, energy systems, and quantum, and both compete for the same BMBF/BMWK project funding.
• CEA (Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission): France's largest public applied research organization with ~20,000 staff. Direct peer in microelectronics, energy (hydrogen, solar), quantum, and defense research, and a key European competitor for industrial R&D mandates and EU funding.
• Leibniz Association: German non-profit research organization with 97 institutes covering natural, engineering, and social sciences. Comparable non-profit, publicly funded structure and institute-based operating model to Fraunhofer, with overlap on materials, photonics, and applied research.
• Max Planck Society: Germany's largest basic research organization with ~30,000 staff across 86 institutes. While Max Planck is more basic-research-oriented and Fraunhofer is more applied, they share the same non-profit, publicly funded German research model and compete for the same pool of scientific talent and federal ministry support.
• SRI International: US non-profit applied research institute with roots in Stanford. Operates a contract-research and licensing model similar to Fraunhofer, serving defense, healthcare, and industrial clients with technology development and IP commercialization.
• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch applied research organization with ~3,500 staff focused on contract research for industry and government. Direct European peer in applied science with similar revenue model (public base funding + contract research + IP) and similar client base in semiconductors, energy, and defense.

Emerging players

• MIT Lincoln Laboratory: US federally funded R&D center operated by MIT, focused on sensor systems, communications, and signal processing. Highly comparable to Fraunhofer IIS specifically in microelectronics, sensing, and imaging research with both government and commercial clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FraunhoferIIS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fraunhofer-iis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries25 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fraunhofer IIS