Fraunhofer ILT - Partner for Innovation in Laser Technology

Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT

With more than 550 employees, more than 19,500 m² net floor space and more than 40 spin-offs, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT is one of the world's most important contract research and development institutes in the fields of laser development and laser applications for 40 years. Our core competencies include the development of new laser beam sources and components, laser measurement and testing technology, and laser manufacturing technology. This includes, for example, cutting, ablation, drilling, welding and soldering as well as surface treatment, micro manufacturing and additive manufacturing, among others. The areas of application for laser beam sources and processes include production and metrology, energy and mobility, medical and environmental technology, and quantum technology. Together with excellent partners from German and international research and industry, Fraunhofer ILT develops, for example, laser transmitters for satellite-based measurement systems for climate research or frequency converters for a fiber-based quantum internet. In the field of fusion energy, Fraunhofer ILT is working on high performance optics, modelling and design of efficient of high energy beam sources incl. next generation pump sources based on high power diodes, additive manufacturing of target capsules and high temperature first wall and reactor components.

More generally, Fraunhofer ILT addresses issues of digitalization in photonics and production technology, process monitoring and control, simulation and modeling, AI in laser technology, and the entire field of system technology. The range of services includes feasibility studies, process qualification, and customer-specific integration of laser processes into the given production line. Fraunhofer ILT is integrated into the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, which is one of the leading research institutions in Germany with 76 institutes, around 32,000 employees and an annual research volume of 3.4 billion euros.