Fraunhofer ISI: shaping | future | together - Fraunhofer ISI

Our research

Fraunhofer ISI conducts research as an independent thought leader for society, politics and industry.

What we offer

We study the conditions under which innovations emerge and their effects—at the scientific, economic, ecological, social, organizational, legal and political level. We assess the potential and limitations of technical, organizational and institutional innovations and help decision-makers from industry, science and politics make strategic decisions. At the Joint Innovation Hub we make the world a better place by working with our clients to implement innovative developments.

Our expertise

Our employees combine their technical, economic and social science knowledge in nine departments with more than 30 business units and research groups. This synergy of different skills and research areas forms the basis of our long-standing expertise in systems and innovation research.

Our methods

We work with a broad spectrum of methods from advanced scientific theories, models and social science measurement instruments, and continuously develop these using empirical findings from our research projects.

News

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Publication series

Current Policy Brief

Press Release / 23.6.2025

Quantum Communication: opportunities, challenges and areas of application

Quantum computers will increasingly threaten the security of traditional encryption methods in the future. Quantum-secure options such as PQC (post-quantum cryptography) and QKD (quantum key distribution) offer ways to future-proof communication. A study coordinated by Fraunhofer ISI highlights the framework conditions, challenges, and promising application sectors for QKD—as well as potential that goes beyond QKD.

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Battery Update / 2.6.2025

Mini- and Microenvironments in Battery Cell Production

Mini- and microenvironments have the potential to make battery cell production more sustainable. An analysis of patent activities and players shows the research hot spots and geographical hot spots of this emerging technology.

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Annual Report 2024

In 2024, we handled more than 400 projects and were able to produce outstanding studies, get people thinking and enrich decision-making in politics and the economy with new concepts and new evidence.

to the Annual Report

Press Release / 11.3.2025

How can Europe boost its domestic battery production and what policy actions are needed?

A new study by Fraunhofer ISI recently published in Nature Energy explores how domestic battery production in Europe can be expanded and how the European continent can become more independent from other parts of the world. The study derives policy recommendations from modelled scenarios how to strengthen the European battery industry.

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Press Release / 27.2.2025

What is the current state of quantum technologies? What impetus is needed in the future?

In a study on quantum technologies titled “Quantum Technologies and Quantum Ecosystems” a team of authors from Fraunhofer ISI is investigating the potentials, research activities and innovation policy. To this end, the technology fields of quantum sensors, quantum communication and quantum computing were analyzed, an international comparison of innovation strategies was conducted and recommendations for political action in Germany were drawn up.

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Press Release / 19.12.2024

Artificial Intelligence in Production

What is the status of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in production in Germany? To what extent are applications with AI solutions already being used in production and in which specific areas? What developments can be expected by the end of this year? The latest study based on the German Manufacturing Survey by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI explores these and other questions. It concludes that AI has indeed arrived in Germany’s manufacturing sector, but that only moderate developments are expected in the foreseeable future.

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Press Release / 12.12.2024

Digital revolution or evolution?

How has Industry 4.0 (I4.0) developed at production sites in Germany in recent years? Which companies were able to attain digital progress, and which companies need to catch up? The publication by Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI is now available and offers for industry, politics and the public an insight into the development of Industry 4.0 in Germany since 2015. The exclusive empirical evidence is based on the analyses of three waves of the survey German Manufacturing Survey conducted by Fraunhofer ISI. The evaluations show quite clearly: We can speak of an I4.0 evolution, but under no circumstances of a revoluti

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