Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research 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 industryscience 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

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.

 

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.

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.

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. 

Calendar

22.10.2025

Crowd Innovation Summit 2025

Die Präsenzveranstaltung im Fraunhofer-Forum Berlin diskutiert das Potenzial partizipativer Innovationsinstrumente. Crowd Intelligence, Crowd Education und Crowd Impact stehen im Mittelpunkt des vom Leipziger Projektteam organisierten Summits.
more info

17.9.2025

Projektabschluss Transentive

Im dreijährigen Forschungsprojekt TRANSENTIVE haben Leipziger Forschende neue Anreizformate für den Forschungstransfer entwickelt. Am 17. September stellt das Projektteam am Fraunhofer IIS in Erlangen die Ergebnisse vor.
more info

14.5.2025

Workshop: Krise – Innovation – Gesellschaft und Verwaltung

In dieser Veranstaltung reflektierten wir unsere Ergebnisse aus Projekt »Innovationen in der lokalen Krisenbewältigung: Der moderierende Effekt von Verwaltungshandeln auf den gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt in der Corona-Pandemie (InnoLoK)« und diskutierten praxisorientierte Ansatzpunkte für künftige Krisen.
more info

2.4.2025

Workshop: Erfolgsfaktoren für die Elektrifizierung von Logistikflotten

In diesem Workshop im Rahmen des Querschnittsthemas Elektromobilität präsentierten wir zentrale Erkenntnisse aus unseren Projekten zur Umstellung von Diesel-Lkw auf batterieelektrische Lkw in der Logistikbranche.
more info