Fraunhofer IAP

Fraunhofer IAP
Name	Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research
Established	1991
Type	Research institute
Parent organization	Fraunhofer Society
Location	Potsdam-Golm, Germany

Fraunhofer IAP is a German research institute specializing in applied polymer science, polymer chemistry, and materials engineering. The institute operates within the Fraunhofer Society network and collaborates with universities, companies, and public research organizations across Europe and worldwide. Its activities span fundamental research, applied development, and technology transfer in polymers, coatings, biomaterials, and energy-related materials.

History

Founded in 1991 amid the post-reunification expansion of the Fraunhofer Society, the institute traces antecedents to research centers in Potsdam and the former German Democratic Republic. Early collaborations linked the institute to the Max Planck Society, Leibniz Association, and regional universities such as the Humboldt University of Berlin and the University of Potsdam. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s the institute engaged with EU framework programs like Framework Programme 5, Framework Programme 6, and Horizon 2020 and worked alongside agencies including the European Commission and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Germany). Partnerships broadened to include multinational corporations such as BASF, Bayer, Dow Chemical Company, and Siemens, while academic linkages involved institutions like the Technical University of Munich, RWTH Aachen University, and the University of Cambridge. Strategic projects drew interest from bodies including the European Space Agency, German Research Foundation, and European Institute of Innovation and Technology.

Research Areas and Expertise

The institute focuses on polymer chemistry, polymer physics, and materials processing with competencies in areas overlapping with photovoltaics, organic electronics, biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, and membrane technology. Research themes include functional polymers for optoelectronics, polymeric materials for lithium-ion batteries, and bioresorbable polymers for tissue engineering. Expertise connects to domains represented by organizations and concepts such as Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, German Aerospace Center, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Laboratories deploy advanced characterization tools aligned with standards from bodies like European Committee for Standardization, ISO, and collaborations with facilities such as the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, DESY, and MAX IV Laboratory.

Organizational Structure and Locations

Operative units are organized into departments and business units that align with industrial needs and academic research groups, mirroring structures seen at institutes such as Fraunhofer IZM, Fraunhofer IKTS, and Fraunhofer ICT. Headquarters and major facilities are located in Potsdam-Golm with satellite activities near technology clusters including Berlin Science Park and cooperative sites in regions with universities like Leipzig and Dresden. Leadership interacts with advisory boards drawing members from companies like Evonik Industries, Henkel, and Robert Bosch GmbH, and academic representatives from University of Oxford, ETH Zurich, and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

Industry Partnerships and Technology Transfer

The institute maintains partnerships with multinational firms and SMEs such as 3M, Novartis, Pfizer, Volkswagen, BMW, and ABB to bring polymer innovations to market. Technology transfer mechanisms include licensing, spin-offs, and collaborative development with incubators associated with Startup Autobahn, High-Tech Gründerfonds, and university technology transfer offices like those at University College London and TU Delft. Contract research projects align with procurement from agencies like European Investment Bank and corporate R&D programs at Intel and Samsung while participating in standards development with DIN and CEN.

Notable Projects and Innovations

Key projects cover organic solar cells, polymer electrolytes for batteries, and biodegradable medical implants, collaborating with entities such as Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic. Innovations include work on block copolymers for nanopatterning in partnership resembling efforts at IMEC and CSEM, development of polymer membranes with groups like Air Liquide and Veolia, and printed electronics initiatives paralleling projects at Nokia and Ericsson. Multidisciplinary consortia have included participants from Fraunhofer FEP, Fraunhofer HHI, University of Manchester, and TU Eindhoven on projects under programs like EUREKA and COST actions.

Funding and Collaborations

Funding sources comprise competitive grants from European Research Council, national funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Germany), project funding through Horizon Europe, and industry contracts with firms such as Shell and TotalEnergies. Collaborative networks involve alliances with research centers including CERN collaborators on materials challenges, joint ventures with Fraunhofer ICT, and bilateral agreements with institutions such as CNRS, CSIC, and Tsinghua University. The institute participates in doctoral programs with universities like University of Glasgow and Utrecht University and hosts visiting scholars supported by fellowships from organizations like the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Awards and Recognition

Researchers and projects associated with the institute have been recognized via awards and nominations from institutions like the German Materials Society, European Inventor Award, R&D 100 Awards, and national prizes administered by the German Research Foundation. Publications and patents cite acknowledgement in contexts alongside laureates of honors such as the Leibniz Prize, ERC Advanced Grant recipients, and recipients of industry innovation awards from Automotive News and European Solar Prize committees. The institute’s teams frequently present at conferences including MRS Fall Meeting, ACHEMA, SPIE Optics + Photonics, and PDA Annual Meeting.

Category:Fraunhofer Institutes Category:Research institutes in Germany Category:Polymer chemistry