Mr. Hauswirth, you have ties to three Berlin research institutions. What sets Berlin apart as a research hub?

Berlin brings together science in a unique concentration and diversity. Excellent universities meet a strong non-university research landscape here – four Fraunhofer Institutes alone are present in the city. At the same time, Berlin is Germany’s startup capital. This creates the ideal conditions for translating research findings into prototypes and innovative applications.

This is further enhanced by the city’s international character. The high proportion of foreign researchers and students brings new expertise, perspectives, ways of thinking, and dynamics to scientific work – a tremendous driver of innovation.

At Fraunhofer FOKUS, we are shaping the digital transformation. However, successful digital solutions only emerge when they are anchored in society. As a computer science institute, we therefore conduct interdisciplinary research and work closely with partners such as the Weizenbaum Institute. This brings together technical, economic, and societal perspectives, including ethical dimensions, for example.

How does the collaboration with Berlin’s universities work in practice?

Very closely and in a wide variety of ways. Fraunhofer is application-oriented, yet deeply rooted in science. This is reflected in joint professorships, research consortia, and laboratories. The collaboration is clearly evident in the example of TU Berlin: Prof. Thomas Magedanz heads the chair of Next Generation Networks there and, together with Dr. Marius Corici, leads the Software-based Networks business unit at Fraunhofer FOKUS, enabling joint research on 5G and 6G testbeds. Dr. Ilja Radusch heads the Smart Mobility business unit at Fraunhofer FOKUS and the Daimler Center for Automotive IT Solutions at TU Berlin.

We also collaborate with HTW, HU, FU, and Charité – in teaching or in projects such as “6G-PATH,” which researches secure and high-performance communication networks for hospitals.

This networking brings benefits at all levels: Fraunhofer gains access to extensive research data and talented young professionals. Students and PhD candidates gain practical insights, access state-of-the-art infrastructure that universities cannot offer, and establish early industry contacts. Companies benefit from knowledge that comes directly from research. The city of Berlin, for example, implements innovations immediately – such as our barrier-free indoor navigation system everguide, which is already available in some government agencies, or the Berliner Jugendhilfe software, which is used in the Senate Department for Education, Youth, and Family.

Another pillar of networked research is digital research infrastructure. That is why we play a leading role in the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) and coordinate key projects.

How do universities and Fraunhofer differ in their self-definition?

Universities conduct research focused on fundamental insights and long-term questions. They have the freedom to work in an exploratory manner. Fraunhofer, on the other hand, is application-oriented: We operate at the interface between science and the market and develop solutions intended for implementation in the short and medium term in collaboration with industry and government. Both perspectives complement each other – and that is precisely what makes joint projects so valuable.

What are your hopes for Berlin’s future as a hub for science and research? 

Courage and even more collaboration. Excellence does not arise in a silo. It arises where disciplines, institutions, and people network. Thematically, the federal government’s high-tech agenda provides an excellent roadmap. However, sustainable funding for transfer and cooperation structures, less bureaucracy, and faster decision-making are also crucial. If we succeed in this, pool our scientific strengths, and consistently translate our ideas into benefits for the economy and society, Berlin can further expand its influence – in Europe and worldwide.