Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI

Executive director: Prof. Dr. Jakob Edler

Director: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Marion A. Weissenberger-Eibl

Contact: Dr. Claus Doll

The Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI analyses the framework conditions of innovations. We research the short- and long-term developments of innovation processes and the social effects of new technologies and services. On this basis, we provide our clients from business, politics and science with recommendations for action and perspectives for important decisions. Our expertise lies in broad scientific competence and an interdisciplinary and systemic research approach.

With currently 190 employees in the fields of science, technology and administration, we offer a competent, highly motivated team that meets the diverse requirements of our clients with scientific competence and a systemic research approach.

As an internationally leading innovation research institute, we work together with other countries and thus guarantee different perspectives on the research object. We are joined by guest scientists from the USA, Japan and the BRICS countries. In return, our scientists go abroad as guest scientists. We maintain an intensive relationship with China and Russia and have started to establish cooperations with research institutions in India and Brazil in initial talks.

Fraunhofer ISI works closely with its partners at the University of Kassel, the TU Berlin, the Université de Strasbourg, the ETH Zurich, the Virginia Tech in the USA and the Institute of Policy and Management (IPM) in Beijing.

Fraunhofer ISI develops and analyzes new multi-modal mobility concepts, especially for passenger traffic. The research focuses on possible technological developments, demographics and emerging value changes, as well as on acceptance and feasibility in business models.

In the field of road traffic, Fraunhofer ISI develops forecasts for fleet development for passenger cars and trucks on a national, European and global level. The potentials of conventional and alternative drive technologies are also estimated and processed in scenario variants. Furthermore, influences of the use of alternative drive technologies on the automotive value chain are analyzed.

In the field of electro mobility, Fraunhofer ISI deals with the cost-effectiveness of various market launch scenarios, taking their techno-economic potential and developments into account. The ISI systematically investigates and analyzes the acceptance of different first customer markets. Furthermore, the environmental and resource impacts of a broad introduction of electric vehicles are evaluated, and possible accompanying policy measures are designed and discussed.

Fraunhofer ISI uses its interdisciplinary know-how in the fields of technology, innovation and business to evaluate policies, develop new policy measures and make recommendations. A central field of work is the complex of climate and transport.

Fraunhofer ISI investigates innovation systems and develops roadmaps for technology trends in all transport modes. In addition to the use of patent analyses and bibliometric studies of the scientific print and online media, Fraunhofer ISI also relies on its broad expertise in conducting expert interviews and organizing actor and expert workshops.

With its integrated transport economics model ASTRA, Fraunhofer ISI has a tool at its disposal that can be used to create macroeconomic analyses for all ISI fields of work. This includes the analysis of economic effects of climate and transport policy, the promotion of technology, as well as new drive or mobility concepts.