The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft based in Germany is the world's leading applied research organization. Prioritizing key future-relevant technologies and commercializing its findings in business and industry, it plays a major role in the innovation process. Founded in 1949, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft currently operates 76 institutes and research units throughout Germany. Over 30,000 employees, predominantly scientists and engineers, work with an annual research budget of 3 billion. Fraunhofer generates 2.6 billion of this from contract research.

About Fraunhofer AVIATION & SPACE:
Fraunhofer AVIATION & SPACE is an association of 30 Fraunhofer institutes conducting applied research in the fields of communication and navigation, protection and reliability, energy and electronics, materials and processes, surfaces and optical systems, sensor systems and analysis, ground segments, downstream, and others.  One area in which Allianz is particularly active is the technology area of surfaces and optical systems. In the field of Space Optics, Fraunhofer is active in the Design and Development of Mirrors and Lenses for Space Applications, Laser Sources, Optical Filters and Coatings and Photonics, to only name a few.