Interview with the President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Europe’s largest applied research organization.
“Barcelona is becoming a scientific hub that attracts some of the world’s best researchers.”
The president of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Holger Hanselka, praises Barcelona's role as a global scientific hub, attracting 'some of the best researchers in the world.' The leader of the main European applied research organization discusses, in an interview with the IPI, the challenges Europe must face.
Hanselka emphasizes the need for the European Union to maintain its commitment to investing in R&D in order not to fall behind its competitors, such as China. He also advocates for new forms of collaboration between different European countries. 'We need to explore new ways of working together to ensure Europe’s competitiveness,' he stresses.
On October 10, the president of the Fraunhofer Institute held a meeting with the IPI Advisory Council, which led to an open dialogue on current challenges in innovation and security, as well as the best model for transferring technology from research centers to private companies. In a previous event, Hanselka confirmed the commitment of this prestigious German institution to launch the Fraunhofer Center for Applied Teragnosis, called Fraunhofer CAT. This new hub, specializing in advanced therapies in the healthcare field, will be established in Barcelona and will operate under the umbrella of the Fraunhofer Spain Foundation.
What is the key to Fraunhofer’s success in technology transfer and what is the balance between science and innovation in your activities
Fraunhofer’s success in technology transfer lies in its unique balance between scientific excellence and practical application. Since our founding in 1949, our mission has been to strengthen the competitiveness of the German and European economies by transforming research into real-world innovations. We focus on future-oriented key technologies and ensure that scientific findings are effectively transferred to industry and society — from AI-based tumor detection to autonomous driving.
At Fraunhofer, basic research and application-oriented science complement each other. Our clearly defined role within the science system allows us to act as a bridge between academia and industry. With our mission-driven, application-focused approach, we play a central role in Europe’s innovation ecosystem. Our work not only delivers tangible solutions for partners but also boosts regional and national competitiveness, fosters acceptance of new technologies, and secures the next generation of scientific talent.
Several factors underpin our success; that is, our professional R&D services tailored to industry needs, the combination of demand-driven research with scientific excellence, and the autonomy of our institutes within a coherent organizational framework. Close cooperation with universities — for example, institute heads often hold university chairs, as seen in the partnership between the University of Barcelona and IBEC — further strengthens our impact. Ultimately, our greatest asset is our motivated and interdisciplinary staff, who thrive on individual freedom and a shared commitment to shaping innovation in Germany, Europe, and beyond.
In sum, Fraunhofer’s model demonstrates that a careful balance between science and innovation, combining rigorous research with application-oriented development, is the key to effective technology transfer and long-term success.
2. Is the German innovation model facing a structural challenge, particularly in sectors like automotive and pharmaceuticals, where China seems to be taking the lead?
Despite structural challenges, Germany remains one of the world’s leading exporters, known for precision, quality, and innovation. Many German companies are adapting successfully to new technologies and market needs, with Fraunhofer being their key innovation partner, especially for SMEs.
At the same time, Germany faces major pressures: rapid geopolitical shifts, a changing security environment, and structural weaknesses such as high energy costs, slow digitalization, and increasing bureaucracy. These factors pose long-term risks to competitiveness.
Yet Germany continues to benefit from an outstanding science and innovation ecosystem, world-class engineering, strong corporations, and an innovation-driven “Mittelstand” that includes numerous “hidden champions.” In sectors such as high-tech materials, optics, and intelligent production, Germany and Europe remain global leaders.
To maintain this leadership, it is essential to accelerate technology transfer, strengthen innovation-friendly frameworks, and foster a bold, risk-taking industry. Fraunhofer’s role as a bridge between research and application is crucial in this regard.
Ultimately, Germany’s continued global competitiveness requires proactivity, market-oriented research, and the courage to innovate and embrace change. While China is advancing in areas like automotive and pharmaceuticals, Germany’s combination of scientific excellence, engineering capability, and innovation-driven enterprises provide a strong foundation to meet these structural challenges.
3. How do you assess the new Multiannual Financial Framework of the European Union in terms of its support for innovation and applied research? Is Europe investing enough to remain competitive globally?
At this stage, the legislative proposals for the new Multiannual Financial Framework, the European Competitiveness Fund, and the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) remain open to interpretation and leave many crucial points unclear. Much will depend on how the negotiations unfold.
What is clear, however, is that the proposals rightly seek to cover the entire investment journey in science and innovation - a principle deeply rooted in Fraunhofer’s DNA, as mentioned above. Yet this ambition will only deliver if collaborative, pre-competitive research remains at the core of European funding. European collaborative research and innovation has long been one of the EU’s greatest strengths: it enables industry and research performing organizations to work together at a scale and level of excellence that no single member state could achieve on its own.
Ambition alone will not guarantee impact, though. Europe must safeguard and, ideally, strengthen the research and innovation budget to remain globally competitive. Adjusted for inflation, the currently proposed €175 billion for FP10 represents only modest real growth compared to Horizon Europe. Without a strong, stable, and predictable budget for R&I - and a clear, sustained commitment to collaboration - Europe risks falling behind its global peers.
Our collective efforts have brought us this far, and our collaboration with European partners continues to deliver real results. But to reach the next level and secure Europe’s competitiveness, we must strengthen what we do best and explore new ways of working together.
4. What strategic role do you envision for Fraunhofer Spain within Europe’s innovation landscape, particularly in the field of biotechnology?
With the Brexit, Spain, and Catalonia in particular, has emerged as a key hub for biotechnology and pharmaceutical development within the European innovation system.
Fraunhofer IBMT has maintained a long-lasting strategic partnership with IBEC in Barcelona. Building on this collaboration, it was a natural step to institutionalize this cooperation and establish Fraunhofer as a strategic building block in the Spanish scientific landscape.
Barcelona is increasingly becoming a prominent science hub, attracting some of the world's best researchers. Fraunhofer aims to collaborate with top talent and leverage these strategic partnerships to strengthen Europe’s biotechnology innovation ecosystem. These partnerships enable solutions that reach beyond local boundaries, reinforcing the importance of regional hubs and cross-border collaboration highlighted also by the upcoming EU Biotech Act.
5. Based on your experience at KIT and Fraunhofer LBF, how can regions like Catalonia foster a culture of collaboration between science, industry, and society?
In my opinion, the key to successful cooperation between science, industry, and society in regions like Catalonia requires a strong, structured approach to innovation, where applied research and technology transfer are central. Based on my experience at Fraunhofer and KIT, several key elements are essential
1. Joint Research Projects: Fraunhofer demonstrates how collaborative projects with industry translate research into real-world applications. At both institutions, we work closely with industry to translate research into real applications, for example, from material testing to mechatronic systems. By partnering closely with SMEs and larger companies, Fraunhofer ensures that research remains market-oriented and addresses pressing technological challenges. The German Mittelstand remains a central innovation driver in this model.
2. Education, Knowledge, and Technology Transfer: Internships, student projects, and joint training programs link academia and industry, creating valuable innovation networks. The “transfer of heads”, where researchers move between Fraunhofer institutes and industrial partners while maintaining collaborative ties, exemplifies the continuous flow of knowledge and strengthens regional innovation. Fraunhofer’s combination of excellent research and application-oriented transfer provides the necessary innovation push to enhance competitiveness.
3. Interdisciplinary and Networked Approaches: Interdisciplinary collaboration encourages creative solutions to complex challenges. Fraunhofer’s regional innovation hubs integrate research, industry, and value chains, producing measurable economic impact. Thinking in terms of regional innovation ecosystems, as I have seen during my time at Fraunhofer LBF, ensures that applied research addresses real societal and industrial needs.
4. Public Engagement and Framework Conditions: Public events and outreach strengthen trust in science and new technologies. Sustainable collaboration requires innovation-friendly frameworks, including simplified research procedures, shared infrastructures, and incentives for R&D. Fraunhofer, in its role across Europe, helps shape these conditions, ensuring that collaboration between science, industry, and society thrives.
In my role as President of Fraunhofer, I see our responsibility as catalyzing these ecosystems, fostering networks, facilitating knowledge transfer, and ensuring that research excellence delivers tangible societal and economic impact. By combining the lessons learned at KIT and Fraunhofer LBF with Fraunhofer’s Europe-wide strategy, regions like Catalonia can unlock their full innovation potential and strengthen long-term competitiveness.