Fraunhofer HNFIZ

The Fraunhofer Heilbronn Research and Innovation Centers HNFIZ represent excellence in research with a direct impact on the economy and society. Since 2019, the Dieter Schwarz Foundation has been supporting Fraunhofer’s activities in Heilbronn.

Starting in 2025, Fraunhofer is expanding its activities to strengthen its presence in the region: Six Fraunhofer institutes (Fraunhofer IAO, ISI, IPA, SIT, IAIS and IRB) are pooling their expertise in eight Fraunhofer Heilbronn Research and Innovation Centers HNFIZ to advance key future topics. Their research portfolio comprises various levels of maturity and is specifically geared towards the pressing challenges and needs of industry and society.

We focus on close collaboration with companies, universities and public institutions. Intensive dialogue with innovation stakeholders in Heilbronn fosters a unique scientific ecosystem that enables the rapid transfer and commercialization of research results. The solutions and technologies developed in Heilbronn are intended to be disseminated throughout Europe and beyond – providing an impetus that will strengthen both the region and Germany in the long term.

The research spectrum comprises the following eight Fraunhofer Heilbronn Research and Innovation Centers HNFIZ:

• Cognitive Service Systems (Fraunhofer IAO)
  AI-based service systems for sustainable value creation
• Future Skills (Fraunhofer IAO, Fraunhofer IRB) 
  AI-based innovation activation in continuing education
• Innovation & Foresight (Fraunhofer ISI) 
  Systemic innovation research and shaping future innovations for innovative futures
• Hybrid Artificial Intelligence (Fraunhofer IAIS, Fraunhofer IAO)
  From human-in-the-loop to agent-in-the-loop approaches
• Transformation & Governance (Fraunhofer IRB, Fraunhofer IAO) 
  Governance models and technology transfer strategies for multiple transformation processes
• AI-Based Robotics (Fraunhofer IPA, Fraunhofer IAO)
  AI-based automation for the manipulation and handling of goods and components
• Cybersecurity (Fraunhofer SIT)
  Enterprise security as the foundation for the digital transformation of the economy
• Applied Quantum AI (Fraunhofer IAO, Fraunhofer IPA)
  Co-development of quantum and AI solutions for mutual reinforcement