Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (Fraunhofer Society) is Europe’s largest application-oriented research organization. Fraunhofer undertakes applied research of direct utility to private and public enterprise and of wide benefit to society.

The society is composed of more than 80 research units, including 60 Fraunhofer, employing over 18,000 people. The Fraunhofer institutes are grouped into seven working alliances (or groups) co-ordinating work a diverse range of fields including production, ICT, materials and components and life sciences.