Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWSThe Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS has been named one of the "Leading Innovators 2026" by FOCUS Business magazine and the research institute FactField. The research facility in Halle (Saale) specializes in the characterization and development of materials. Its goal is to develop solutions for industrial applications that promote sustainability and efficiency. The institute works closely with companies and research partners to accelerate technology transfer and strengthen competitiveness.
A total of 84,500 companies from Germany were examined for the study and evaluated in five subject areas ("Strategy and Innovation Culture," "Products and Services," "Processes," "Business Model," "Organization"). The "Leading Innovators" were determined on the basis of surveys, online analyses, and innovation indicators such as the number of patents filed or the number of employees in research areas. A total of 425 companies were honored.
Fraunhofer IMWS was assigned to the "Research/Development/Science" category in the evaluation and achieved the highest rating in the "Products and Services" subject area. The subject areas "Strategy and Innovation Culture" and "Processes" were rated "very good." The institute had already been named an "Innovation Champion" in the previous year's survey.
"I am delighted about this award because it underscores the importance of innovation for the competitiveness of our economy and the shaping of our future. We want to actively support both with our expertise and creativity," says PD Dr. Christian Schmelzer, acting director of Fraunhofer IMWS. "For us, innovation means always thinking one step ahead. Only in this way can we be prepared for the future needs of our clients on the one hand and develop truly forward-looking and sustainable solutions on the other, from improved resource efficiency to new business models."
With nearly 300 employees, Fraunhofer IMWS supports its clients in the further development of materials, components, and systems. The institute's core competencies lie in microstructure analysis and microstructure-based material design. Building on a deep understanding of materials down to the atomic level, the team enables decisive improvements in the functionality, reliability, and service life of materials in industries such as electronics, plastics processing, photovoltaics, medical technology, optics, and hydrogen technologies.
(November 12, 2025)