The Fraunhofer Society is the leading organisation of applied research in Germany. It operates 47 research institutes in Germany with about 9,000 employees, about the half of them scientists and engineers. The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft expands to a worldwide organisation, especially in USA and Asia. Home of the Fraunhofer Society is Munich.
International activities are increasingly important.
Apart from the collaboration with numerous companies and research establishments within Europe the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft operates resource centers and research units in the United States.