Funds worth approximately EUR 3.9 million are being allocated to the Fraunhofer Institutes by the authorities.
The Fraunhofer Society, a leading research organisation in Germany, has been awarded funding for eight innovative projects in the region of Baden-Württemberg. This support comes from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg and forms part of the Double Budget 2025/2026.
The Fraunhofer Society operates 76 institutes and research facilities across Germany, employing around 32,000 people. In Baden-Württemberg, approximately 6,100 employees are based in the 13 institutes, with a budget of around 600 million euros. The regions of Stuttgart, Freiburg, and Karlsruhe are the main foci, each hosting five, five, and three institutes respectively.
The selected projects cover a wide range of themes, including hydrogen technologies, AI-supported material data analysis, and the digitalization of the construction industry. The goal is for these projects to provide SMEs with excellent partners from research to help them navigate technological changes.
The projects aim to develop new solutions together with companies, test them in practice, and establish them sustainably. They were chosen for their high practical relevance and ability to transfer knowledge to the economy, especially during times of technological change. The support aims to strengthen the transfer of knowledge and technology from research to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region and future-proof the Innovation Hub Baden-Württemberg.
Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, stated, "The goal is for excellent research to lead to tangible progress for SMEs." The Minister also supports the expansion and further development of the institutes of applied research, including the Fraunhofer Society, through investments in buildings and equipment.
Two-thirds of the research funding for the Fraunhofer Society is generated through industrial contracts and publicly funded research projects. The annual research volume of the Fraunhofer Society is approximately 3.4 billion euros, with 3 billion euros coming from contract research. The federal and state governments contribute around one-third of the funding through basic funding.
The further expansion of applied research and the founding and establishment of new institutes are among the strategic goals of the state government in innovation policy. The Double Budget 2025/2026 provides special funds for the promotion of collaborations between the institutes of the Fraunhofer Society and SMEs.
The Fraunhofer institutes cover all important technology fields, including energy research, production research, materials research, security, mobility, learning systems and artificial intelligence, quantum sensorics, and bioeconomy and environmental technologies. The projects selected for funding in Baden-Württemberg will contribute significantly to these fields, driving innovation, climate protection, sustainable economic development, and startup support in the region.
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