Excellent research must be open to the world

Dear colleagues, 

In the context of current social discourses, it is urgent for us to emphasize, that ideologies that restrict open-minded thinking not only obstruct groundbreaking innovations but also pose a sustainable threat to the prosperity and potential of our society. We strongly reject developments that go against the rule of law and democracy. 

Our institute has always stood for the freedom of science and a culture of diversity. We are proud to be a place where people come together regardless of age, ethnic background and nationality, gender and gender identity, physical and mental abilities, religion and worldview, sexual orientation, and social background to jointly research groundbreaking ideas for the world of tomorrow. 

The culture at Fraunhofer IOF has been, is, and will continue to be characterized by appreciation, respect, and tolerance. Our past successes are testament to the fact that the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as well as Fraunhofer IOF can only benefit from these values. Therefore, we explicitly stand for it: Excellent research must be open to the world! 

That is why it is self-evident for us at Fraunhofer IOF to be part of the initiative "Weltoffenes Thüringen". Only through open dialogue and the exchange of diverse perspectives can we find innovative solutions to the challenges of our time. 

Head of the institute