Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.

FhG

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is Europe's leading organization for applied research, focusing on future technologies and their commercialization in industry.

Lobbying Activity

Fraunhofer Urges Stricter Solar Industry Rules of Origin

24 Nov 2025
Message — Fraunhofer recommends unique customs codes for all solar manufacturing components and specialized equipment. They suggest the country of module manufacturing should determine origin and propose incorporating foreign investment rules.123
Why — Stricter origin rules would help European manufacturers resist competition from dominant foreign markets.45
Impact — Dominant foreign producers would lose the ability to bypass EU resilience requirements.67

Fraunhofer urges EU focus on value retention and innovation

6 Nov 2025
Message — The organization calls for prioritizing product repair and remanufacturing over simple recycling. They emphasize the need for research funding to develop advanced sorting and material separation technologies.12
Why — Proposed R&I investments would solidify the organization's position as a global research leader.3
Impact — Foreign recycling providers would lose market access through bans on non-EU recyclates.4

Meeting with Matthias Ecke (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Oct 2025 · Besuch Fraunhofer IPMS

Fraunhofer ISE Demands Stricter Sustainability Standards for Solar Procurement

10 Oct 2025
Message — Fraunhofer ISE urges requirements exceeding market norms, including carbon footprints 10-20% below average. They demand 30-year warranties and a ban on products involving forced labor.123
Why — Adopting their specific assessment methodology would increase the institute's influence in regulatory compliance.4
Impact — Companies relying on individual footprint calculations or low-cost manufacturing would lose market access.5

Meeting with Thibaut Kleiner (Director Communications Networks, Content and Technology)

6 Oct 2025 · Data Space Business Alliance on the AI Continent Action Plan

Meeting with Matthias Ecke (Member of the European Parliament)

17 Sept 2025 · Besuch Fraunhofer IWU

Fraunhofer Urges Integrated EU Energy Grid and Unified Planning

5 Aug 2025
Message — Fraunhofer calls for a unified EU planning framework that integrates electricity, hydrogen, heat, and gas sectors. They demand faster permitting processes and an urgent update to technical grid codes to maintain system stability.123
Why — The institution would secure more funding for projects bridging research and industrial implementation.4
Impact — National governments lose control as the EU replaces divergent local energy strategies.5

Response to EU Fusion Strategy

1 Jul 2025

Executive Summary of the Statement by the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft: The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft welcomes the EUs initiative to develop a comprehensive fusion strategy and emphasizes the urgency of coordinated action to secure Europes leadership in this transformative field. Fusion energy is critical for Europes energy sovereignty, climate goals, and industrial competitiveness. However, Europe risks falling behind within the next five years as global competitors, including the U.S., China, and the UK, rapidly advance fusion technologies with significant investments, groundbreaking achievements, and innovation-friendly ecosystems. To remain competitive, Europe must act decisively and collaboratively. A Call to Action: To secure its leadership in fusion energy, the EU must prioritize the following actions: Significantly strengthen the commitment to research and development of laser-driven Inertial Fusion Energy Build essential laser driven infrastructure for IFE development, e.g. establish open-access laser-driven implosion facilities to advance inertial fusion energy and support startups and innovators. Strengthen material development: Develop advanced materials and testing capabilities to enable the deployment of robust and commercial fusion systems. Address critical components: develop tritium breeding and fuel cycle technologies at scale. Foster collaboration: Align member states, private investors, and research institutions within a shared framework to pool resources and expertise. Develop a skilled workforce: Invest in education, training, and knowledge transfer to ensure the long-term talent pipeline needed for fusion energy. By acting decisively and collaboratively, Europe must position itself as a global leader in fusion energy, securing the economic, environmental, and technological benefits of this transformative technology for its citizens and industries.
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Fraunhofer urges EU to clear bioeconomy investment barriers

23 Jun 2025
Message — Fraunhofer calls for a stable, evidence-based regulatory framework to replace current uncertainty. They urge the EU to introduce mandatory bio-based content requirements and material quotas. The organization also advocates for redefining biological waste and wastewater as valuable resources.12
Why — This would help research institutions bring sustainable innovations to market faster.34
Impact — Fossil-fuel industries face reduced market share and the removal of subsidies.5

Fraunhofer urges EU to bridge biotech research-to-industry financing gap

5 Jun 2025
Message — Fraunhofer requests targeted financial support for early-stage biotech startups to bridge the research-to-industry gap. They advocate for expanded technology infrastructures, such as pilot plants, and the creation of regulatory sandboxes. Additionally, they call for standardized sustainability metrics and a reassessment of waste regulations.123
Why — This would help the organization turn its research into marketable technologies while securing long-term funding.45
Impact — Non-sustainable industries lose market share due to higher carbon taxes and reduced subsidies.67

Fraunhofer urges collaborative European AI infrastructure and gigafactories

5 Jun 2025
Message — A common European platform should be created to share computing power and data spaces. Open AI gigafactories should foster cooperation between researchers and industry, especially small businesses. A comprehensive approach to upskilling is necessary, including on-the-job training for current scientists.12
Why — Lower operational costs and better access to infrastructure would facilitate more collaborative industrial projects.34
Impact — Non-European technology providers may face stiffer competition as the EU prioritizes its own sovereign AI.5

Response to European Affordable Housing Plan

4 Jun 2025

Unlocking Affordable Housing through Strategic Investment in RD&I. Joint Response of Fraunhofer, SINTEF, TNO and VTT: Innovation in the construction and housing sectors is not an auxiliary concern, but a core enabler of productivity in the construction sector and housing affordability. Without sustained and strategic investment along the whole R&D&I system, affordability goals will remain out of reach. A growing portfolio of promising housing innovations is already available ranging from advanced digital tools and circular construction methods to practical, low-tech approaches grounded in local knowledge and traditions. These are not abstract concepts. Many are being tested and applied across Europe in pilot projects and local initiatives. Yet, these efforts remain isolated, fragmented and insufficiently scaled. Promising innovations often fail to gain traction beyond pilots because they are not adapted to diverse local housing needs or lack validation in real-world conditions. Integration, combining different technologies, systems, and actors to create more holistic, cost-effective housing solutions should be created along the following critical dimensions: 1) Localized but replicable and scalable Innovation Pilots & Demonstrators. 2) Establishment of innovation hubs that bring together SMEs, research organizations, local authorities, and industry actors to co-create housing solutions. 3) Stronger SME Participation in Innovation. SMEs possess deep knowledge of local areas and can serve as powerful multipliers, especially in identifying and converting underused local spaces into productive assets. 4) Performance-Based Definitions of Affordability. 5) Increased, stable and Dedicated R&D&I Funding.
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Meeting with Caroline Vandierendonck (Head of Unit Budget)

31 Mar 2025 · Exchange on the role of R&I in the next MFF, with a focus on the proposed European Competitiveness Fund (ECF)

Meeting with Viktória Ferenc (Member of the European Parliament)

19 Mar 2025 · Introduction, presentation of project of PERAMEDIC

Response to EU Start-up and Scale-up Strategy

14 Mar 2025

Fraunhofer expresses its support for the European Start-up and Scale-up Strategy (EU-SUSCS). As large research organization, Fraunhofer offers a wide range of research activities from collaborative research with industry to transfer activities through licensing agreements, and the support of start-ups. Beyond the initiation of spin-offs, Fraunhofer connects external start-ups with Fraunhofer solutions. By establishing the EU-SUSCS and incorporating the in the paper described dimensions Europes market appeal for start-ups will be enhanced, creating self-reinforcing effects that will further boost innovation and entrepreneurship. The easier, simpler, and faster it is to launch and grow a spin-off or a start-up, the more attractive this transfer option will become. Please see the full statement attached.
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Meeting with Silvia Bartolini (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen)

13 Mar 2025 · Research and Innovation

Meeting with Christian Ehler (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren e.V. and

3 Mar 2025 · FP10

Fraunhofer calls for innovation-led European Water Resilience Strategy

28 Feb 2025
Message — The organization argues that research and innovation must be integrated into policy to develop advanced management technologies. They call for a shift toward decentralized infrastructure and the removal of regulatory barriers that stall water reuse projects.123
Why — Increased funding for research and lighthouse projects would directly benefit their technical development activities.4
Impact — Industrial polluters would face higher costs through stricter enforcement of the polluter-pays principle.56

Response to Delegated act on primarily used components under the Net-Zero Industry Act

20 Feb 2025

Fraunhofer, a leading applied research organization in Europe, is committed to advancing energy technologies and climate protection in close cooperation with industry. We strongly advocate for precise and comprehensive definitions in the Delegated Act to ensure clarity and alignment with the technological and industrial realities of net-zero technologies and tap the full potential of these technologies for Europes climate neutrality. We propose the following considerations to enhance the Delegated Act: Converters as Critical Components Converters are essential for both onshore and offshore wind turbines, as well as various battery technologies, including battery packs and modules. They are also indispensable for all types of hydrogen electrolysers (AEL, PEMEL, AEMEL, SOEL) and hydrogen fuel cells (PEMFC, SOFC). Essential Components for Heat Pumps Heat pumps require a range of critical components, including various compressors (not just scroll, but also rotary, screw, piston, turbo, or just state compressors), heat exchangers, fans, pumps, and converters. Clarification of CCS Terminology The term "CCS technologies" should explicitly include negative emission technologies to reflect the full scope of carbon capture solutions. Comprehensive Definition of Carbon Capture Technologies Carbon capture technologies should encompass biochar carbon removal, bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS), ocean alkalinization, and enhanced rock weathering as final products. Inclusive Categorization of Carbon Storage Technologies Carbon storage technologies should explicitly reference CO2 and biochar infrastructure in final products to acknowledge their role in long-term carbon sequestration. CO2 Transport and Utilization technologies The category should include biochar (carbon). CO2 transport technologies should include pipelines and biomass infrastructure for BECCS and Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR) as final products. These refinements will ensure that the Delegated Act fully recognizes the essential components and infrastructure necessary to achieve net-zero objectives.
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Response to Interim Evaluation of Digital Europe

17 Sept 2024

Fraunhofer strongly supports Digital Europe Programs (DIGITAL) goal to drive the EUs digital transition for industry, citizens, and public administration. Europes gap in digitalization and the required competencies now pose a disadvantage in global innovation, security, and green transformation efforts for Europe. Therefore, Europes digital deficit and its impact on competitiveness and sovereignty must be addressed urgently. The development and integration of key enabling digital technologies for and with industry necessitate the production, combination and transfer of knowledge, skills and infrastructure provided by collaborative European projects. DIGITAL successfully funds close collaboration in key digital technologies between public and industry partners of all sizes and Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs), which deliver the required research and development activities. To ensure DIGITAL realizes its full potential in driving the EUs digital transformation and strengthening its open strategic autonomy in the future, Fraunhofer proposes the following actions in the attached paper.
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Meeting with Marc Lemaitre (Director-General Research and Innovation)

27 Jun 2024 · to discuss Fraunhofer Roadmap "Circular Bioeconomy"

Meeting with Delara Burkhardt (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and European Environmental Bureau

25 Jan 2024 · packaging waste

Meeting with Marion Walsmann (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

13 Dec 2023 · Standard Essential Patents

Meeting with Tiemo Wölken (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

15 Nov 2023 · Carbon Removals (Staff level)

Meeting with Christian Ehler (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Nov 2023 · Standard Essential Patents

Meeting with Tiemo Wölken (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

27 Sept 2023 · Carbon Removals (Staff level)

Fraunhofer urges EU to include biochar in carbon strategy

28 Aug 2023
Message — Fraunhofer requests clear definitions focusing on atmospheric carbon to avoid a regulatory loophole. They advocate for including diverse removal technologies, specifically biochar, alongside other established methods.12
Why — Prioritizing the research community would benefit Fraunhofer by highlighting its development of novel carbon technologies.3
Impact — Fossil fuel companies would lose the ability to market captured emissions as negative removals.4

Fraunhofer Demands Greater Role for Research in Net-Zero Act

27 Jun 2023
Message — Fraunhofer urges the Commission to integrate research and innovation more deeply into the regulation's implementation. They propose involving research organizations in technical standardization and new training academies. Furthermore, they demand that existing research budgets remain untouched by new funding requirements.123
Why — It would secure their institutional influence and protect long-term funding for research.45
Impact — Existing research programs would lose resources if their budgets are redirected to this initiative.6

Response to European Critical Raw Materials Act

26 May 2023

Fraunhofer expresses its explicit support for the CRMA and its overarching goal to ensure the EUs access to a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials. Particularly the provisions for developing the circularity of critical raw materials markets and lowering the environmental footprint of critical raw materials are commendable. Fraunhofer welcomes the Commissions recognition of R&Is key role in overcoming the challenges outlined in the CRMA and supports the implementation of the steps defined in the Communication. Fraunhofer underscores the key potential of the development of advanced materials for the substitution of critical raw materials. At the same time, Fraunhofer recognizes that having no direct link to R&I efforts in the proposed Regulation is a missed opportunity to ensure an impactful CRMA. Establishing such a link well beyond the scope of the Communication will allow the Commission to make stronger use of R&I for the implementation of the CRMA. For example, strategic projects can be required to include R&I in their scope. Close cooperation with research and technology organizations can not only provide the knowledge, solutions, and processes required to achieve the CRMAs goals but also contribute significantly to a powerful and independent industrial base in Europe. Applied research organizations such as Fraunhofer have a proven track record in supporting industry to establish more sustainable and resource efficient operations. Such organizations play a key role in the establishment of a circularity approach as regards the CRMAs implementation. Moreover, RTOs can provide invaluable insights to facilitate the acceptance of the measures proposed. The same applies to minimizing dependencies through alternative technologies, increasing CRM efficiency, and reducing CRM demand. Crucially, RTOs are partners in a multitude of European initiatives in the materials domain such as partnerships under Horizon Europe. Strong engagement with RTOs can thus only further the alignment between the CRMAs implementation and R&I efforts, and with other initiatives such as the Net-Zero Industry Act, and particularly the Advanced Materials Initiative 2030. RTOs have long standing experience in standardization efforts, especially since most new EU standards to deliver on the green and digital transitions originate from R&I projects. In terms of skills, through frequent and fruitful brain exchange with industry and on the job training at the forefront of industrys needs, RTOs provide a substantial contribution to market uptake and have the work force to address challenges in the materials domain. Finally, a stable, long-term investment in R&I coupled with a balanced approach towards TRLs is a key prerequisite for an impactful and timely fulfillment of the CRMA. Therefore, Fraunhofer proposes to the Commission to establish a direct link to R&I efforts and ensure greater participation of stakeholders from R&I throughout the CRMAs implementation and the preparation of subsequent initiatives. Such an approach will allow the Commission to draw significant added value from RTOs in-depth expertise in the field of materials science and ensure the CRMA delivers on its ambitious goals.
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Meeting with Matthias Ecke (Member of the European Parliament)

20 Feb 2023 · Meinungsaustausch zur Forschungs- und Industriepolitik

Response to European Critical Raw Materials Act

25 Nov 2022

Fraunhofer expresses its support for the establishment of the Critical Raw Materials Act. To deliver on its ambitious goals, we would like to reinforce the European Commissions efforts with expertise and innovative solutions for a broad range of sectors, which stand to be impacted by the roll out of the initiative. Our key messages are: 1. Cutting edge R&I and industry uptake of innovative solutions are prerequisites for achieving the ambitious goals of the Critical Raw Materials Act. Therefore, a strong involvement of the scientific community in the development and implementation of the Critical Raw Material Act is crucial. 2. Technological solutions are key enablers for realizing the initiatives full potential. They are contingent on a ringfenced budget for materials R&D across civil and defense applications. Such solutions should emphasize: - Development and large-scale industry take-up of CRM substitutes and alternatives - Establishment of circular material use - Deployment of design-by-recycling solutions - Reduction of CRM demand across the whole value chain 3. We must bridge the gap between different application areas while at the same time addressing appropriately sector-specific needs. To this end, a solutions toolbox based on a fundamental system analysis instead of a one-size-fits-all approach is key.
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Response to Standard Essential Patents

9 May 2022

Please find our contribution attached.
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Fraunhofer IIS opposes new EU rules for compulsory patent licensing

29 Apr 2022
Message — The organization argues there is no demonstrated need for an EU legislative initiative. They believe the current system provides sufficient legal certainty and should remain unchanged.12
Why — Maintaining the status quo protects their revenue from patent-dependent contract research.34
Impact — Public health authorities might find it harder to access technology during emergencies.5

Response to Soil Health Law – protecting, sustainably managing and restoring EU soils

14 Mar 2022

Humankind has largely lived beyond the biocapacity of its planet. The use of natural resources such as water and soil exceeds the earth's regenerative capacity and we already experience the effects such as climate change, species extinction and the scarcity of natural resources. The rising world population exacerbates this situation. The consumption needs of a growing and more demanding world population have led to changes in our ways of land use and management in recent decades. To meet the needs of humanity, agricultural yields have had to be greatly increased. This has been accompanied by the ever-increasing use of artificial fertilizers, chemical pesticides, machinery and technical processes, which results in devastating consequences for the ecosystem. Biodiversity is decreasing, pesticide residues in soils and waters are ubiquitous, and the ecological balance is disturbed. A rapid change of land management is crucial. With its pioneering technologies and methods, the bioeconomy offers sustainable use and, at the same time, conservation of natural resources such as soil. The bioeconomy focuses on the development and convergence, i.e., integration of biological, biotechnological and digital innovations ...
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Meeting with Alexandra Geese (Member of the European Parliament) and Heinrich Böll Stiftung e.V.

1 Mar 2022 · Event: Wirtschaftskreis Digitale Ordnungspolitik - Forschungsdatenzugang

Meeting with Roberto Viola (Director-General Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and Robert Bosch GmbH and

10 Jan 2022 · Semiconductors

Meeting with Alina-Stefania Ujupan (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager)

15 Nov 2021 · EU Chips Act

Meeting with Thierry Breton (Commissioner) and

4 Nov 2021 · Will follow

Response to Standardisation Strategy

9 Aug 2021

Please see the attached file.
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Response to Addressing distortions caused by foreign subsidies

22 Jul 2021

Please see the attached feedback. Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments.
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Meeting with Thierry Breton (Commissioner) and European Environmental Bureau and

10 Jun 2021 · Roundtable of the Clean Hydrogen Alliance: 3rd meeting of the co-chairs

Meeting with Thierry Breton (Commissioner) and

27 Nov 2020 · Roundtable on Processors

Meeting with Kerstin Jorna (Director-General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs)

27 Oct 2020 · EC objectives in hydrogen energy and research on hydrogen technology at Fraunhofer Institutes

Meeting with Christiane Kirketerp De Viron (Cabinet of Commissioner Johannes Hahn), Sibylle Bikar (Cabinet of Commissioner Johannes Hahn)

19 Oct 2020 · New ways of working

Response to Sustainable corporate governance

8 Oct 2020

Fraunhofer IIS thanks the European Commission for the opportunity to engage in the ongoing consultation and dialogue regarding sustainable corporate governance. Our comments are set out in the attached document.
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Response to Intellectual Property Action Plan

14 Aug 2020

Attached submission Fraunhofer IIS, which is being filed on its behalf.
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Meeting with Kerstin Jorna (Director-General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs)

5 Jun 2020 · Introductory phone call to present their concerns on IP and SEPs

Meeting with Jean-Eric Paquet (Director-General Research and Innovation)

17 Oct 2019 · Keynote speech at High-level conference

Meeting with Thibaut Kleiner (Cabinet of Vice-President Günther Oettinger)

5 Apr 2019 · European Research

Meeting with Günther Oettinger (Commissioner)

4 Apr 2019 · European Research in the MFF

Meeting with Jean-Eric Paquet (Director-General Research and Innovation)

6 Nov 2018 · RTO Innovation Summit

Response to Multiannual Financial Framework: Specific Programme implementing the 9th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation

6 Aug 2018

Section 3.2.3 mentions ‚Advanced Materials‘ and in particular the materials enablers like characterisation (e.g. for quality assurance), modelling, piloting and upscaling. Due to the complexity of material design and testing for specific customer needs, MSO-technologies are a must to to reduce the long time scales of material development. The modeling and simulation of material-structure-relationships, the upscaling of effective material properties and the use of optimization techniques for material design can be combined with machine learning tools to do a virtual material screening for domain specific application in advance. This will accelerate the advanced material development for specific applications dramatically. Appendix Section 4.2.3 mentions the need for new approaches to manage energy grids. It should be emphasized that the complex interaction of electricity production and consumption as well as exploiting the synergies between different networks could strongly benefit from combining domain specific knowledge with advance approaches from MSO. Dynamical mathematical models help to estimate and analyze the dynamics of the grid state, to predict the changes of the grid due to the dynamic interaction and to optimize the network operation considering the complexity of the interrelationships between production and consumption. Appendix Section 4.2.4 mentions the need of the interaction between buildings / industry installations and the electrical grid e.g. for process control of production plants to optimizes energy flows in interaction with energy system. The tool development could strongly benefit from combining domain specific knowledge with advance approaches from MSO. In particular, tools are required for optimal predictive control, taking into account the fluctuating feed-in of renewable producers on the one hand and the energy required by consumers on the other. This can be achieved by advance methods from MSO. The digital transformation of the economy is a challenging task worldwide. Shorter innovation and product cycles and a strong demand for individualized, complex and environmentally friendly products are increasing pressure on product and process development. Simultaneously, manufacturers face stiffer competition for raw materials and energy supplies and need to guarantee the global availability of their products under high quality standards. The above challenges have a fundamental impact on the planning and designing of new and the control and optimisation of existing installations. The explosion of huge data sets and computing power requires new scientific strategies and algorithms for a successful digitalization of industrial production based on simulation and software technology. Here advanced methods from MSO will play a fundamental role. Generic and purely data based approaches often suffer from incomplete instrumentation or corrupted data in production environments. This defects can be overcome by hybridized models relying on physical models AND data. Individually tailored mathematical models and algorithms for data analysis, simulation and optimization will be beneficial for the companies and have the power to differentiate them from their competitors.
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Meeting with Mariya Gabriel (Commissioner)

12 Jun 2018 · Visit of CEBIT stand (eHealth, AI, IoT, Cyverscecurity, Vertigo Starts project)

Meeting with Günther Oettinger (Commissioner)

22 May 2018 · MFF and implications on FP9

Meeting with Friedrich Wenzel Bulst (Cabinet of Commissioner Margrethe Vestager)

3 Mar 2017 · Standardisation

Meeting with Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

7 Feb 2017 · Business discussion

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

7 Feb 2017 · Digitizing agriculture

Meeting with Markus Schulte (Digital Economy)

6 Jul 2016 · DSM

Meeting with Michael Hager (Digital Economy), Thibaut Kleiner (Digital Economy) and

10 Jun 2016 · Standards/IoT

Meeting with Günther Oettinger (Commissioner)

3 Dec 2015 · DSM

Meeting with Carlos Moedas (Commissioner)

3 Dec 2015 · European Innovation Council

Meeting with Maria Da Graca Carvalho (Cabinet of Commissioner Carlos Moedas)

19 Nov 2015 · Prep meeting for meeting with President of Fraunhofer with Commissioner Moedas

Meeting with Markus Schulte (Digital Economy), Michael Hager (Digital Economy) and PwCIL

16 Nov 2015 · DSM

Meeting with Carlos Moedas (Commissioner) and Meyer Burger Technology AG and Ruggero Schleicher-Tappeser

16 Dec 2014 · Meeting with MEP C. Turmes on xGWP – European Gigawatt Fab

Meeting with Günther Oettinger (Commissioner)

2 Dec 2014 · Digital Society