History of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Strengthening central administration

The offices of the Executive Board and central administration, until now spread across nine buildings in the Nymphenburg district of Munich, move under a single roof, at Leonrodstrasse 54. The increased powers and staffing of the central organization, required under the new policy, lead to conflicts with the institutes, who fear for their autonomy; these conflicts are only gradually laid to rest over the following years.  

Approval "Fraunhofer model"

A cabinet decision approves in principle the structures of the "Fraunhofer model", enabling the introduction of largely results-dependent basic funding and a supplementary support fund administered independently by the organization's executive board. This serves to confirm, among other things, that government decision-makers firmly intend to transform the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft into the leading umbrella organization for applied research institutes. At the same time, the association gains the flexibility to respond as required to changing overall conditions in the scientific community and in the market for contract research. Over the next few years, the new settlement leads to permanent and sustained growth of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.   

Military-oriented institutes open up for civil research

In a departmental agreement between the ministries of research and defence, together with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, it is agreed to open up the military-oriented institutes for civil research.  

Integration of the Institute for Food Technology and Packaging ILV 

The Institute for Food Technology and Packaging ILV in Munich joins the association. It is later renamed the Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV.

Increasing membership

The optimistic mood at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is reinforced by a reshuffle of the Senate: its new members come from a wide variety of backgrounds, such as the social scientist W. Goldberg, journalist Marion Dönhoff and trade union leader Franz Steinkühler.  

New institutes

New establishments in this year include: the Institute for Solid State Technology IFT in Munich and the Institute for Technological Trend Analysis INT in Euskirchen.

25 years of Fraunhofer

On its 25th anniversary, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft can look back at an impressive record.

With a staff of nearly 1,700 working in 27 institutes, the association's total revenue now for the first time exceeds 100 million marks.

Evaluation

The Science Council produces a new evaluation of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, but its effects are nowhere near as significant as those of 1965.  

Lower share of defense research

The proportion of military research in the overall budget of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has fallen from over 50 per cent at the end of the 1960s to nearer a quarter.

Fraunhofer programme to promote contract research for small and medium-sized enterprises

The Fraunhofer programme to promote contract research for small and medium-sized enterprises is initiated. Government promotion of the projects considerably improves the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft's chances in contract acquisition.  

The Ministry of Defense calls for the organizational and financial separation of defense research institutes from the civilian project departments.

The existing institutes are divided into three categories: military research, contract research and service establishments.  

Start-ups/closures

From a department of the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Engineering and Automation IPA, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology IPK is being built in Berlin.

The Hamburg-based Research Group for Radio Meteorology IRM is taken over by the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft and the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Hygiene in Munich is closed down.

General agreement on research promotion of civil research

The general agreement on research promotion comes into force for the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. According to the terms of this agreement, the ministries of research and of defence share political responsibility for Fraunhofer, whilst promotion of civil research is supported by the federal and regional governments at a ratio of 9:1.  

Change in the Executive Board

Hans-Ulrich Wiese is appointed as a member of the Executive Board with responsibility for finances, replacing August Epp.

Programme for small and medium-sized enterprises

The Fraunhofer programme to promote contract research for small and medium-sized enterprises, initiated in 1976, grows into a nationwide government programme for SME support. This programme is to become a major growth and prestige factor for the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.  

Dissolution of the Board of Directors, appointment of the Executive Board or Senate

The constitution is changed and the administrative council is dissolved. Its duties under the articles of association are passed to the Executive Board and the Senate respectively.  

Inauguration "Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize" 

The Fraunhofer Prize is inaugurated. It is awarded each year to members of staff of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft - for outstanding scientific work in the application-related solution of technical and scientific problems.

The first winners of the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize

Dr. Günther Baur and Waldemar Greubel
from Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF for the development of a fluorescence activated display

Ulrich Lübbert
from Fraunhofer Institute for Information and Data Processing IITB for a method of automation of root welding

"We were able to combine fluorescent plates as light collectors with liquid crystal cells in such a way that large-format, high-intensity displays could be manufactured. The technique was suitable for large clocks and displays. To get the first Fraunhofer Award meant an honor and I was very happy. The combination of the fluorescent light collectors with solar cells later contributed to founding the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE from our institute."

Dr. Günter Baur, Fraunhofer IAF, 1978 first winner of the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize.

Common name "Fraunhofer Institutes"

At the request of the regional government, the Freiburg-based Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Research - which does not form part of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft - adopts the name Kiepenheuer-Institut for Solar Research (KIS). This creates the legal precedence allowing the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft to refer to all of its establishments in a uniform manner as "Fraunhofer Institutes".

New research unit

The Fraunhofer Technology Development Group TEG starts work in Stuttgart.  

30 years of Fraunhofer

30 years after its foundation, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft comprises 27 institutes. Their 2,200 employees generate a research volume of close to 187 million marks.

Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize ceremony

The prize-giving ceremony of the 1979 Joseph von Fraunhofer Awards takes place at the annual conference in Munich.

Winners of the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize

Dr. Wolfgang Mohr, Wilhelm Repplinger, Dr. Wolfram Wettling, Dr. Wolfram Jantz, Dr. Roland Diehl
from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF for their research on ultrasound excitation and ultrasound measurement

Foundations and closures

The Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT is founded in Aachen.

The increasing demand for solar research as a result of environmental protection and energy crises leads to the foundation of the working group for solar energy systems ASE. It will later be renamed the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE.

The very first Fraunhofer Institute, the Institute for Applied Microscopy, Photography and Cinematography IMPK, ceases to operate in the same year.  

Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize ceremony

The prize-giving ceremony of the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize 1980 takes place at the annual convention in Hanover.

Winner of the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize

Dr. Ulrich Kaufmann from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF for his research on the analysis of defects in the III-V semiconductors GaP, GaAs and InP.

Foundations Fraunhofer Institutes

In Dortmund, the Fraunhofer Institute for Transport Technology and Goods Distribution ITW is opened, later known as the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO is devolved from the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA in Stuttgart.

Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize ceremony

The prize-giving ceremony of the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prizes 1981 takes place at the annual convention in Düsseldorf.

Winners of the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize:

• Christoph Eisenbarth, Erich Enderle, Prof. Dr. Jörgen Peter Foith, Dr. Heribert Geißelmann, Hermann Ringshauser, Dr. Georg Zimmermann from the Fraunhofer Institute for Information and Data Processing IITB for their research on the modular system MODSYS for image processing sensors for visual inspection, control of machines and handling equipment and process control

• Werner Patzelt
  from the Fraunhofer Institute for Information and Data Processing IITB for his research on the position control of industrial robots with decoupling by the inverse system

• Otto Alfred Barbian und Rudolf Karl Neumann
  from the Fraunhofer Institute for Non-Destructive Testing IZFP for their research on the development of automated ultrasonic testing methods and systems

Foundations Fraunhofer Institutes

The Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectric Circuits and Systems IMS is founded.

The department for microstructure technology of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solid State Technology IFT is transformed into the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure Technology in Berlin, and in 1994 moves to Itzehoe as the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology ISIT.

Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize ceremony

The prize-giving ceremony of the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize 1982 takes place at the annual conference in Munich.

Winners of the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize:

• Dr. Dieter Hochrainer, Dr. Hans Peter König, Günter Oberdörster, Dr. Shinji Takenaka
  from the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Aerosol Research ITA for their research on the carcinogenicity of cadmium aerosols

• Eckhard Bergmann and Dr. Alfred Dumbs
  from the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM for the development and application of the D-field principle in non-contact measurement technology