Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO

The Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering (Fraunhofer IAO) is part of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and is based in Stuttgart. Its activities include applied research and development in engineering, computer science, economics, and social science. Fraunhofer IAO helps companies and institutions to recognize the potential of new technologies, to harness them for commercial use, and to open up attractive future markets.

The Fraunhofer IAO is based in Stuttgart, Baden-Wuerttemberg. The institute aims to optimise the interaction between people, organisation and technology: On behalf of companies, public bodies and institutions, it develops strategies, business models and solutions for digital transformation. Fraunhofer IAO supports large corporations as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in using new technologies such as cognitive computing, blockchain, autonomous driving, and IoT platforms. In doing so, it pays particular attention to the interplay of humans, technology, and organisation. Fraunhofer IAO supports its clients in business areas such as organisational development and work design, service and human resources management systems, and digital business.

In the research area 'Urban System Design', the teams of scientists conduct research in industrial consulting projects as well as nationally and internationally funded research projects on creative and inspiring approaches and business models for sustainable, livable and transformable cities, logistics and security of tomorrow.

The Fraunhofer Morgenstadt Initiative is a network of Fraunhofer Institutes, municipalities and companies and therefore combines different perspectives and expertise from applied research, municipal practice, and solution-oriented business. Founded in 2012 by Fraunhofer IAO, the Morgenstadt Initiative is designed to think ahead, develop and test innovations, solutions, and new perspectives for the city of the future. This includes research and advancement of development potentials and solution strategies in urban systems, but also the identification and analysis of impending disruptive developments for the city of tomorrow and the design of new management approaches, systems or suitable business models. Through its partner institutes and companies, the Morgenstadt Initiative bundles expertise in a total of 11 innovation fields, which uniquely cover the entire spectrum of complex urban systems.

The research and work of Fraunhofer IAO mainly contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals 7, 8, 9, 11, and 13: