Jena, March 10, 2026. On Tuesday, a state-of-the-art new research building for the Fraunhofer Institute was ceremoniously inaugurated in Jena. With the new facilities and laboratories, research capacity at the site will be significantly expanded. Federal Research Minister Bär praised the project as a prime example of her high-tech agenda.
- Event: Ceremonial opening of a new research building
- Location: Fraunhofer-Institut (IOF), Beutenberg Campus, Jena
- Guests (Selection): Federal Research Minister Bär
- Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Strengthening the Science Location
The city of Jena already enjoys an excellent reputation nationally and internationally as a science location. This status is further consolidated by the Fraunhofer Institute’s new building complex. The newly created laboratories and facilities offer scientists state-of-the-art working conditions to develop forward-looking technologies in optics and precision mechanics. During the opening, Federal Research Minister Bär emphasized the high relevance of such investments for Germany’s innovative strength and technological sovereignty.
Background: Jena as a Center for Optics and Photonics
The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF) is based on the Beutenberg Campus in the south of Jena. The location has grown historically: since the 19th century, shaped by pioneers such as Carl Zeiss, Ernst Abbe, and Otto Schott, Jena has been considered the cradle of modern optics. Today, the Beutenberg Campus bundles numerous research institutions and technology-oriented companies under the guiding principle „Life Science meets Physics“. The close integration of basic research and industrial application makes Jena one of the most important European centers for photonics and optical high-tech solutions.
Source:
New Fraunhofer Facility: Research Minister Bär Praises Innovation in Jena
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