At the start of the event, guests from the worlds of politics, research, and business were set in the festive mood with a look back at the 80-year history of Fraunhofer WKI, current research highlights, and visions for the future.

“For 80 years, Fraunhofer WKI has stood for forward-looking research, combining scientific excellence with tangible practical impact. With its research areas ranging from raw material processing to material and product development and recycling, the institute not only makes an important contribution to the transition to a climate-neutral economy but also strengthens the innovative capacity of Germany as a business location, the state of Lower Saxony, and the Braunschweig region,” said Professor Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer Society. “Through close collaboration with academia, industry, and politics, Fraunhofer WKI has for decades been rapidly translating research results into marketable applications, thereby providing important impetus for sustainable innovations.”

“For decades, Fraunhofer WKI has stood for impactful research—originating in Lower Saxony and visible on the international stage. It owes this strength to the dedication of its staff and the vision of its founder, Dr. Wilhelm Klauditz. With the new technical center, we are making a targeted investment in the institute’s future. This will enable WKI to continue setting international standards in bio-based materials and technologies,” said Professor Joachim Schachtner, State Secretary at the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture.

The Mayor of Braunschweig, Dr. Thorsten Kornblum, emphasized the importance of Fraunhofer WKI for Braunschweig as a research hub: “Research into wood as a raw material is of paramount importance in Braunschweig. The sustainable use of resources and innovative approaches to climate and environmental protection are key challenges for the future. Our city can be proud to have so many scientific institutions and research centers working on creative solutions and communicating them clearly. In this context, the Fraunhofer WKI, with its clear unique position in this field of research, plays a particularly important role.”

Professor Angela Ittel, President of the Technical University of Braunschweig, emphasized the importance of scientific collaboration: “The Fraunhofer WKI is not only a recognized center of excellence in materials science, but also a key partner in our vision of the Technical University of Braunschweig as a networked ‘Ecoversity.’ Through the strategically coordinated collaboration between TU Braunschweig and the Fraunhofer Institutes on campus, we are creating a close integration of basic research and application—thereby accelerating and enhancing the success of our joint innovation process.”

The Director of Fraunhofer WKI, Professor Dr. Raoul Klingner, looks to the future with optimism based on the institute’s wealth of experience: “Building on our core competence and strong position in the field of renewable raw materials, we aim to systematically expand our range of services for our customers through our strategy, which is consistently focused on collaboration. We see particular development opportunities for our industry in the areas of AI and automated production, bio-based materials, as well as recycling and indoor air quality. We view timber construction as a driver of innovation across all areas of expertise at Fraunhofer WKI.”