Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems
Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems

Network

Fraunhofer FOKUS is part of an extensive network of research institutions, companies, and multipliers. This helps us to stay informed about emerging technology and market trends, to use our research to drive technology development, and to build successful partnerships with key players in the industry. The aim is to gain early access to new technologies and solutions and to acquire potential customers and cooperation partnerships.

Expand all Close all

Transfer for our future

Joseph von Fraunhofer demonstriert Joseph von Utzschneider, Georg Reichenbach und Georg Merz das Spektrometer.
© Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
Joseph von Fraunhofer demonstrates the spectrometer to Joseph von Utzschneider, Georg Reichenbach and Georg Merz.

Fraunhofer FOKUS is one of 75 institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, headquartered in Germany, is one of the world’s leading organizations for applied research. It plays a major role in innovation by prioritizing research on cutting-edge technologies and the transfer of results to industry to strengthen Germany’s industrial base and for the benefit of society as a whole. Since its founding as a nonprofit organization in 1949, Fraunhofer has held a unique position in the German research and innovation ecosystem.

With nearly 32,000 employees across 75 institutes and legally independent research units in Germany, Fraunhofer operates with an annual budget of €3.6 billion, €3.1 billion of which is generated by contract research — Fraunhofer’s core business model. Unlike other public research organizations, base funding from the German federal and state governments is merely the foundation for the annual research budget. This serves as the basis for groundbreaking precompetitive research that will become important for the private sector and society in the years ahead. Fraunhofer’s distinctive feature is its large share of industry revenue, guaranteeing close collaboration with the private sector and industry, and the consistent focus of Fraunhofer’s research on the market. In 2024, industry revenue accounted for €867 million of its budget. Fraunhofer’s research portfolio is augmented by competitively acquired public-sector funding, pursuing the right balance between public-sector and industry revenue.

Last updated: April 2025

 

Fraunhofer Groups and Alliances

Similar to faculties, Fraunhofer institutes organize themselves along scientific disciplines in groups. Fraunhofer FOKUS is a member or guest member of the

In addition, Fraunhofer FOKUS works closely with other institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and cooperates in the following alliances:

Fraunhofer Centers

At our centers, we work with partners from research, industry, administration and politics in technology-related topics and cross-target group approaches. Here we combine know-how and technological expertise with the leading institutions and minds to implement system-relevant solutions. 

  • 5G Berlin – In a joint venture with manufacturers, network operators and research institutions, Fraunhofer FOKUS and Fraunhofer HHI are offering the communication technology infrastructure to implement 5G prototypically at an early stage with the 5G Berlin testbed.
  • Innovation Center Telehealth Technologies - this is concerned with the development of interoperable information and communication systems for medical care.
  • IT4Energy-Zentrum (German only) – Fraunhofer FOKUS is developing information and communication solutions for the optimal use of existing resources and ensures data protection and standard-compliant networking.
  • Leistungszentrum “Digitale Vernetzung“ (German only) – the focus of the joint work of the four Berlin Fraunhofer institutes FOKUS, HHI, IPK and IZM is on technologies and solutions that take into account the increasing digitalization and networking of all areas of life.
  • Fraunhofer SIRIOS – combines the expertise of four Fraunhofer institutes in the areas of simulation, situation awareness, crisis communication and visualization offers a bundled range of services for current challenges in public safety.

Spin-offs from Fraunhofer FOKUS (selection)

Over the last 35 years, Fraunhofer FOKUS has produced a number of spin-offs whose business activities are based primarily on knowledge, know-how and/or intellectual property rights from Fraunhofer FOKUS:

  • Ikv++ technologies ag
  • eGov Consulting and Development GmbH
  • Testing Technologies GmbH
  • Iptel.org GmbH
  • think-cell Software GmbH
  • TWONKY VISION GmbH
  • BitTubes GmbH
  • corenetwork dynamics GmbH
  • ITSO IT solutions GmbH
  • Trifense Intelligence Network Defence
  • PTC GmbH
  • DeFuTech Deutsche Funktechnik UG
  • Ingrano Solutions GmbH
  • WLD Innovation Trade UG
  • TURM solutions GmbH
  • gravity&storm GmbH
  • Spreewunder GmbH

Universities and higher education institutions

Fraunhofer FOKUS maintains close partnerships with universities and other research and higher education institutions. In particular, there are collaborations with the Institute for Telecommunications Systems at the TU Berlin, with the Institute for Computer Science at the FU Berlin and with the Institute for Computer Science at Humboldt University.

Involvement in university research in Berlin

Fraunhofer FOKUS is involved in all major Berlin scientific initiatives, in some cases in a leading role. In particular, Prof. Dr. Manfred Hauswirth is a director at the Weizenbaum Institute and a member of the Steering Committee 3 (Advancing Research Quality and Value) of the Berlin University Alliance.

Memberships (selection)

Standardization bodies (selection)

Fraunhofer FOKUS is actively involved in standardization bodies, ensuring that its solutions and technologies are interoperable with national, international and industrial standards.

  • ETSI: European Telecommunications Standards Institute
  • W3C: Word Wide Web Consortium
  • SVTA: Streaming Video Technology Alliance
  • OMG: Object Management Group
  • WSTNET: Web Science Network of Laboratories
  • IIC: Industrial Internet Consortium
  • OneM2M: Standards for M2M and the Internet of Things
  • OW (Object Web) 2 Consortium
  • 5GAA: 5G Automotive Association e. V.

International business partnerships

Fraunhofer FOKUS works with companies worldwide and generates a relevant portion of its total economic revenue from clients abroad. FOKUS researchers work particularly closely with companies from the following countries:

  • Netherlands
  • USA
  • Austria
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Japan
  • Singapore
  • United Arab Emirates

International research cooperation

By networking with internationally renowned research institutions, exchanging expertise across national borders and developing international markets, Fraunhofer FOKUS ensures that it develops and integrates future-oriented technologies for business and society at an international level. International research cooperation exists, among others, with: