On 1 July 2018, Fraunhofer IIS, headquartered in Erlangen, became a Guest Member of the Fraunhofer Group for Innovation Research. Currently the largest institute of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Fraunhofer IIS complements the expertise of the group’s five member institutions with valuable competence in the areas of audio and media technologies, and cognitive sensors. “We welcome Fraunhofer IIS as a Guest Member in the Fraunhofer Group for Innovation Research. Colleagues from our institutes work on ground-breaking technologies that are essential to developments in such areas as virtual reality, streaming services (including over mobile networks), the Internet of Things, and the digitalization of human perception. In the course of the digital revolution, we will need to leap through advances in these fundamental areas to boost innovative ability in companies and within the economy,” says the chair of the group Prof. Wilhelm Bauer.

Prof. Albert Heuberger, Executive Director of Fraunhofer IIS, explains the motivation to become a Guest Member in the group: “Open innovation approaches have become much more important at our institute in recent years. An outstanding example that immediately springs to mind is Josephs, our innovation laboratory in Nuremberg's city center, in which companies get to test their new products and services with the help of real customers, inviting them to become co-creators. We look forward to offering our experience in the Fraunhofer Group for Innovation Research, and conversely, being able to benefit from the skills of our partner institutes – that’s what makes the group even more effective.”

Fraunhofer Group for Innovation Research: Understanding change, shaping the future 

Understanding the complex interdependencies within systems of innovation is critical for business, government, science, and society to succeed. For this reason, it is important to recognize change as soon as it emerges in any sector, market or technology. Only by comprehending such change, can we actively influence its long-term economical, technological, societal, governmental, and cultural impact. As an expert partner that uniquely combines socioeconomic and sociotechnical research, the Fraunhofer Group for Innovation Research provides stakeholders with orientation, facilitates them in positioning themselves, and assists in shaping the future in the innovation system. The Fraunhofer Group for Innovation Research comprises the five member institutions, Fraunhofer IAO, IMW, INT, IRB, and ISI. 

Forward-looking study opens up a view on the innovation landscape in 2030

In its recently published paper Wandel verstehen, Zukunft gestalten – Impulse für die Zukunft der Innovation [Understanding change, shaping the future – ideas to drive the future of innovation], the Fraunhofer Group for Innovation Research formulated five theses for 2030 based on pioneering future trends that will fundamentally change innovation in Germany and Europe. With their help, experts have derived concrete tasks that industry, science, government, and society will need to confront to build on the high quality and excellence of the German and European innovation system. The paper will soon be available in English.

About Fraunhofer IIS

The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen is a world-leading application-oriented research institute for microelectronic and IT system solutions and services. Fraunhofer IIS performs research around the two key areas “audio and media technologies” and “cognitive sensors.” The institute developed the ground-breaking mp3 and AAC standards and was a key player in the digitalization of cinema. At Fraunhofer IIS, around 970 employees perform contract research for industry, service companies, and public institutions. Founded in 1985, the institute has 14 sites in 11 cities and is headquartered in Erlangen.