The Fraunhofer Society (German Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft) is a German research organization named after the German physicist Joseph von Fraunhofer, with 58 institutes spread throughout Germany, each focusing on different fields of applied science, as opposed to the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, which works primarily on basic science. Some basic funding for the Fraunhofer Society is provided by the state (the federal government together with the German Länder "owns" the Fraunhofer Society), but about two thirds of the funding are earned through contract work, either for government sponsored projects or from industry.

It is named after Joseph von Fraunhofer because he was deemed to have been a scientist, an engineer, and an entrepreneur in one person, superbly exemplifying the goals of the society.

The official name of the Fraunhofer Society is Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. (German for "Fraunhofer Society for the advancement of applied research").

Some notable projects

• The MP3 compression algorithm was invented and patented by Fraunhofer IIS
• They are developing a program for use at IKEA stores, which would allow people to take a picture of their home into a store to view a fully assembled, digital adaptation of their room.

Institutes

The Fraunhofer Society consist of 58 institutes today. These are Fraunhofer Institutes for:

• Algorithms and Scientific Computing - SCAI
• Applied Information Technology - FIT
• Applied Optics and Precision Engineering - IOF
• Applied Polymer Research - IAP
• Applied Solid State Physics - IAF
• Autonomous intelligent Systems - AIS
• Biomedical Engineering - IBMT
• Building Physics - IBP
• Ceramic Technologies and Sintered Materials - IKTS
• Chemical Technology - ICT
• Communication Systems - ESK
• Computer Architecture and Software Technology - FIRST
• Computer Graphics Research - IGD
• Digital Media Technology - IDMT
• Electron and Plasma Technology - FEP
• Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology - UMSICHT
• Experimental Software Engineering - IESE
• Factory Operation and Automation - IFF
• High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut - EMI
• Industrial Engineering - IAO
• Industrial Mathematics - ITWM
• Information and Dataprocessing - IITB
• Information Center for Regional Planning and Building Construction - IRB
• Integrated Circuits - IIS
• Integrated Systems and Device Technology - IISB
• Integrated Publication and Information Systems - IPSI
• Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology - IGB
• Laser Technology - ILT
• Machine Tools and Forming Technology - IWU
• Manufacturing Engineering and Applied Materials Research - IFAM Shaping and Functional Materials Department and Bonding Technology and Surfaces Department
• Manufacturing Engineering and Automation - IPA
• Material and Beam Technology - IWS
• Material Flow and Logistics - IML
• Mechanics of Materials - IWM
• Media Communication - IMK
• Microelectronic Circuits and Systems - IMS
• Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology - IME
• Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institut - HHI
• Non-Destructive Testing - IZFP
• Open Communication Systems - FOKUS
• Patent Center for German Research - PST
• Photonic Microsystems - IPMS
• Physical Measurement Techniques - IPM
• Process Engineering and Packaging - IVV
• Production Systems and Design Techology - IPK
• Production Technology - IPT
• Reliability and Microintegration - IZM
• Secure Telecooperation - SIT
• Silicate Research - ISC
• Silicon Technology - ISIT
• Software and Systems Engineering - ISST
• Solar Energy Systems - ISE
• Structural Durability - LBF
• Systems and Innovation Research - ISI
• Technological Trend Analysis - INT
• Technology Development Group - TEG
• Thin Films and Surface Engineering - IST
• Toxicology and Experimental Medicine - ITEM
• Transport and Infrastructure Systems - IVI
• Wood Research, Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut - WKI

Institute independent

• Biomolekulare Informationsverarbeitung (German for organic molecular information processing) (BIOMIP)

External link

• http://www.fraunhofer.de