Networks

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the leading organization for applied research in Europe. Its research activities are conducted by 72 institutes and research units at locations throughout Germany. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft employs a staff of more than 26,600, who work with an annual research budget totaling more than 2.5 billion euros. Of this sum, more than 2.1 billion euros is generated through contract research. Around 70 percent of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s contract research revenue is derived from contracts with industry and from publicly financed research projects.  International collaborations with excellent research partners and innovative companies around the world ensure direct access to regions of the greatest importance to present and future scientific progress and economic development.

Several Fraunhofer Institutes bring together specific know-how to archieve excellent research results. The Fraunhofer ILT is member of the following alliances:

The close collaboration with selected chairs at the RWTH Aachen University, one of Europe’s leading technical universities, provides us with access to a broad base of fundamental knowledge in the field of laser technology.

When faced with interdisciplinary issues, we can access the knowledge garnered by the R&D centers that cooperate with us. Consequently we are able to offer our customers one-stop solutions. Small and medium-sized enterprises are often eligible for support in rolling out high-risk processes through programs run by the ministries, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and the banks. Fraunhofer ILT’s experts give our partners access to regional, national and international competence networks.

At local level we are cooperating with institutions such as the competence center automotive region Aachen e.V. and the Aachener Kompetenzzentrum für Medizintechnik e.V. At regional level we are actively represented in the IVAM Association for Microtechnology and in NeMa – Neue Materialien e.V. We support the networking of laser users, manufacturers and researchers at national level by participating in projects such as the Arbeitskreis Lasertechnik e.V., the Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft Lasertechnik e.V. as well as the Deutscher Verband für Schweißtechnik e.V. DVS. And not least, we are actively promoting challenging, trendsetting developments in our industry through our involvement in international competence networks such as the Laser Institute of America LIA or the European Laser Institute ELI.

Fraunhofer ILT carries out bilateral and cooperative projects with foreign companies and subsidiaries of German companies abroad. In Plymouth, Michigan (U.S.), the Fraunhofer Center for Laser Technology CLT was set up under the sponsorship of Fraunhofer ILT. We conduct joint research projects with the Townes Laser Institute TLI in Orlando, USA. Together with Joining Technologies we acquire projects in the area of Laser Additive Manufacturing LAM in North America at the Joining Technologies Research Center JTRC. Furthermore, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft also runs liaison offices in the United States and Asia. And Fraunhofer ILT’s prestigious credentials also include membership of national and international associations such as the Laser Institute of America LIA.

Guest companies work in our Applications Center in their own separate laboratories and offices. This special form of technology transfer is based on a long-term cooperation agreement with the institute in the field of research and development. The added value comes from utilizing our technical infrastructure and sharing knowledge with our experts. Some ten companies are reaping the benefits of the Applications Center. In addition to expert groups from leading laser manufacturers and innovative laser users, new entrepreneurs from the areas of special machine production, laser processing and laser measurement technology find it a suitable environment in which to turn their ideas into reality on an industrial scale.

The following guest companies bring together different competences and know-how in the applications center at the Fraunhofer ILT:

• Aconity3D GmbH
  
• AMPHOS GmbH
  
• Arbeitskreis Lasertechnik e. V.
  
• Beratron GmbH
  
• BLV Licht- und Vakuumtechnik GmbH
  
• dLS die LichtSchneiderei
  
• Ingenieurbüro Clermont + Partner
  
• ELI e. V.
  
• Harald Dickler – Sonderoptiken für die Lasertechnik
  
• IQ evolution GmbH
  
• IXUN LASERTECHNIK GmbH
  
• Laserfact GmbH
  
• Leister Technologies Deutschland GmbH
  
• LightFab GmbH
  
• LUNOVO Integrated Laser Solutions GmbH
  
• Philips GmbH Photonics Aachen
  
• Pulsar Photonics GmbH
  
• S&F Systemtechnik GmbH