Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft presents 2025 annual report in Germany; all-time revenue high at 966 million euros
Presentation of the Fraunhofer 2025 annual report
Presentation of the Fraunhofer 2025 annual report Innovations for People and Markets Press release
June 11, 2026 In 2025, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft was once again able to demonstrate its innovative strength as a leading applied research organization. Despite challenging market conditions, industrial revenue increased to an all-time high of 966 million euros, while total business volume remained stable at 3.6 billion euros. The number of invention disclosures increased to 589 and, with 538 patent applications, the workforce of 31,000 strong also surpassed its innovation output from the previous year. A total of 29 spin-offs emerged from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft institutes and research units in 2025.
Presentation of the Fraunhofer 2025 annual report
Innovations for People and Markets
In 2025, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft was once again able to demonstrate its innovative strength as a leading applied research organization. Despite challenging market conditions, industrial revenue increased to an all-time high of 966 million euros, while total business volume remained stable at 3.6 billion euros. The number of invention disclosures increased to 589 and, with 538 patent applications, the workforce of 31,000 strong also surpassed its innovation output from the previous year. A total of 29 spin-offs emerged from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft institutes and research units in 2025.
Scientific excellence and its successful translation into innovative solutions represent key pillars for competitiveness. Since its founding in 1949, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has supported companies and public institutions in developing new technologies based on scientific findings—from initial concepts to market launch. Fraunhofer is thus making an important contribution to a resilient and sustainable economy and society.
Despite geopolitical crises and a tense economic environment, total business volume in 2025 remained steady at 3.6 billion euros. Industrial revenue reached a new high of 966 million euros. This represents an increase of 11 percent over the previous year. Fraunhofer had nearly 31,000 employees across 75 institutes and research units over the 2025 fiscal year. With backgrounds primarily in the natural sciences or engineering, these employees generated 3.2 billion euros in contract research, accounting for 88 percent of total business volume as in the previous year.
A sustainable and resilient path forward
Contract research for industry is what sets the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft apart in the sphere of science in Germany. “With the highest industrial revenue in the history of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, we once again proved our strength as a key innovation partner for industry in the 2025 reporting year,” says Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. “The fact that we achieved this despite geopolitical crises and a tense economic environment serves only to strengthen my conviction that, especially in times like these, our unique role in Germany’s highly specialized research ecosystem is all the more important. Our foremost thoughts are not of risks but rather opportunities. Our market-oriented research is a key factor for prosperity, technological sovereignty and the future viability of Germany. Based on this foundation, we will continue to be a strong and reliable partner for the scientific community, industry sector and society.”
In 2025, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft collaborated with the directors of the Fraunhofer institutes in launching a structured process for crisis prevention and response in order to safeguard the returns from joint research with companies. This initiative is aligned with the development of an organization-wide framework strategy initiated by the executive board in 2024 for the purpose of consistently strengthening the industry-oriented research institution.
With 538 patent applications claiming rights of priority, Fraunhofer remains one of the most active patent applicants in Germany. The number of invention disclosures increased to 589. The European Patent Office Technology Dashboard 2025, formerly known as the Patent Index, identifies the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as the leading European research institution in terms of patent applications. This highlights the success of the organization’s IP strategy. As of the reporting date, Fraunhofer held equity investments in a total of 83 companies operating in a diverse range of sectors, of which 53 were involved in technology transfer. The expertise and technologies of the Fraunhofer institutes were drawn on to found 29 spin-offs in 2025. Fraunhofer Venture supported a total of 89 new spin-off projects over the reporting period.
Innovation partner for industry and society
With the High-Tech Agenda Germany (HTAD), the German federal government intensified the focus of its research and innovation policy on value creation and technological sovereignty in 2025. With its deep market understanding and excellent technological expertise, Fraunhofer has been involved in all roadmap processes as an implementation partner since the fall of 2025.
“The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft will set its full weight behind the implementation of the High-Tech Agenda Germany—with applied cutting-edge research, regional partnerships and practical solutions,” says Hanselka. “Examples include the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production FFB in Münster, which, for the first time, has manufactured electrically functional lithium-ion battery cells using exclusively European production facilities. Another example is the Fraunhofer Heilbronn Research and Innovation Centers HNFIZ, where a unique scientific ecosystem is taking shape in collaboration with local companies, organizations and public entities, with the goal of promoting technology transfer and commercialization. However, to unleash Germany’s innovative potential, we need an environment that nurtures innovation, such as with reforms to the laws governing nonprofit organizations, as promised by the proposed Freedom of Innovation Act.”
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is publishing its voluntary 2025 sustainability statement today at the same time as the annual report. This is the result of Fraunhofer consistently refining its sustainability reporting. The report shows how Fraunhofer takes responsibility for environmentally sound, economically successful and socially equitable development, both through its research and in its own organizational approach. The research institution promotes climate protection and energy efficiency within its organization, a responsible corporate and work culture and the development of technological solutions to key challenges for society as a whole. Fraunhofer thus underscores its commitment to bringing together scientific excellence with sustainable development.
Press release – Presentation of the Fraunhofer 2025 annual report [ PDF 0.15 MB ]