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The EU is a tiny part of Fraunhofer funding: General Finances: https://www.fraunhofer.de/en/about-fraunhofer/profile-structure/facts-and-figures/finances.html

The EU is a tiny part of Fraunhofer funding: General Finances: https://www.fraunhofer.de/en/about-fraunhofer/profile-structure/facts-and-figures/finances.html https://www.fraunhofer.de/en/about-fraunhofer/profile-struct... Research Funding Figure: <https://www.fraunhofer.de/en/about-fraunhofer/profile-structure/facts-and-figures/finances/jcr:content/contentPar/sectioncomponent/sectionParsys/textblockwithpics_79/imageComponent1/image.img.4col.large.jpg/1656944708727/Revenue-from-contract-research-2021.jpg https://www.fraunhofer.de/en/about-fraunhofer/profile-struct...> EU is 93 Million Euro out of a total of 2,518 Million Euro. That vast majority comes from German governments and ministries, both in the base funding and through project grants. Then the next major block is R&D done at Fraunhofer funded by industry (723 Million Euro). EU Funding is often as much about the prestige as it is about the projects.

cycomanic 3y ago
IIRC correctly Fraunhofer can not apply for the majority of EU funding as the main party, but instead they are a partner on somebody else's grant.
- Certhas 3y ago
  Unless they are partners as subcontractors, this would still show up as EU-based funding here. And they can definitely participate in normal grants as partners. Not sure what exact rule you have in mind.
  - thsksbd 3y ago
    "Unless they are partners as subcontractors," Well that's the loophole, isnt it?
    - _fizz_buzz_ 3y ago
      A loophole for what? Fraunhofer has no incentive to hide that they get EU grants.
      - Certhas 3y ago
        On the contrary, these grants are extremely competitive and prestigious.
        _fizz_buzz_ 3y ago
        Exactly! Some people on here have weird ideas.
gonium 3y ago
For context: Fraunhofer employee here. Fraunhofer is a not for profit organization, consisting of around 75 independent institutes. Our income comes from three sources: (1) publicly funded R&D, for example EU grants. We apply just as everyone else, so we compete with universities and private companies. (2) Industry grants. This is where the “applied science” of our mission statement comes into play. These grants are mostly from SMEs, but we also have huge industry grants. And finally (3) the base funding from the Germany’s government. The idea is that common cost like buildings and infrastructure is covered by the base funding. The base funding depends on the ratio of income from (1) and (2). About 40-50 percent should originate from industry (2). If an institute deviates from this, their base funding will be reduced. Bottom line: There is a strong incentive to do research, but also to transfer that knowledge to industry partners. Failing to do both will reduce the base funding. Its a delicate balancing act, for each institute.

cycomanic 3y ago

IIRC correctly Fraunhofer can not apply for the majority of EU funding as the main party, but instead they are a partner on somebody else's grant.

Certhas 3y ago
Unless they are partners as subcontractors, this would still show up as EU-based funding here. And they can definitely participate in normal grants as partners. Not sure what exact rule you have in mind.
- thsksbd 3y ago
  "Unless they are partners as subcontractors," Well that's the loophole, isnt it?
  - _fizz_buzz_ 3y ago
    A loophole for what? Fraunhofer has no incentive to hide that they get EU grants.
    - Certhas 3y ago
      On the contrary, these grants are extremely competitive and prestigious.
      - _fizz_buzz_ 3y ago
        Exactly! Some people on here have weird ideas.

gonium 3y ago

For context: Fraunhofer employee here. Fraunhofer is a not for profit organization, consisting of around 75 independent institutes. Our income comes from three sources: (1) publicly funded R&D, for example EU grants. We apply just as everyone else, so we compete with universities and private companies. (2) Industry grants. This is where the “applied science” of our mission statement comes into play. These grants are mostly from SMEs, but we also have huge industry grants. And finally (3) the base funding from the Germany’s government. The idea is that common cost like buildings and infrastructure is covered by the base funding. The base funding depends on the ratio of income from (1) and (2). About 40-50 percent should originate from industry (2). If an institute deviates from this, their base funding will be reduced. Bottom line: There is a strong incentive to do research, but also to transfer that knowledge to industry partners. Failing to do both will reduce the base funding. Its a delicate balancing act, for each institute.