Fraunhofer-GesellschaftRequirement-driven and Problem-oriented Research
Fraunhofer conducts research in the fields relating to social challenges in order to achieve tangible improvements for mankind. The essence of our research portfolio is formed by widely diverse issue-oriented and problem-driven research questions that are approached in an interdisciplinary and networked manner, with a constant focus on rapid transfer.
Strategic Initiatives
Fraunhofer continuously develops a proactive research portfolio and makes an effort to launch joint German and European initiatives with partners from business, science and politics. This makes it possible to quickly address current topics of particular societal urgency and to coordinate them accordingly.
Developing and Emerging Countries
The Fraunhofer Institutes work together with developing and emerging countries in a wide variety of partnerships. Higher-level imperatives, such as the duty to collaborate in development activities, provide a framework for these dedicated efforts. Here areas in which Fraunhofer can make a technological contribution to mastering global challenges continue to grow in importance.
Knowledge Transfer in Politics and Society
When it comes to the interaction of business, society, politics and science, Fraunhofer is an able partner, always ready to react rapidly to societal debates. It remains a priority for Fraunhofer to promote the active transfer of knowledge in politics and society as well as to use specialized expertise to provide a well-founded basis for making decisions.
Scientific Excellence
Worldwide challenges require the collaboration of the widest possible variety of scientific disciplines in order to generate a highly varied range of possible solutions. Excellent scientific depth in each discipline is just as essential as the breadth within the discipline and exchange within the scientific system. Thus for Fraunhofer applied research means ensuring a high level of scientific quality.
Scientific Integrity
We consider scientific integrity a necessary basic belief that must be maintained and promoted. Scientific indicators developed in recent years specifically for Fraunhofer ensure a constantly high level of quality in scientific activities. Accordingly scientific integrity is flanked by a number of other measures in parallel to the introduction of scientific indicators.
Ethics and Scientific Responsibility
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is aware of its responsibility in dealing with both the freedom of research and the potential risks associated with research, and actively promotes responsible handling of research issues. Its objective is to go beyond the requirements of legal regulations in sensitizing its employees to the ethical acceptance of responsibility and in further developing the structural prerequisites for ethically responsible research.