TNO and Fraunhofer intensify their cooperation
The Dutch and German economies and society are closely intertwined. We therefore both face the same major societal challenges. For this reason, TNO and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft have decided to further expand and deepen their existing collaboration in the field of applied science and R&D.
In the margins of the signing of the German-Dutch Innovation Pact, the chairmen of TNO and Fraunhofer, at a distance, signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
Intelligent energy networks and reliable AI
The MoU, reinforced by the Innovation Pact, intensifies collaboration for joint research and innovation activities in areas of mutual interest. Two first research themes have been identified for the intensified joint collaboration, both of which play a major role in the Netherlands, Germany and Europe: Intelligent energy networks and reliable artificial intelligence.
The MoU aims at more topics in the future where knowledge, ideas and employees will be exchanged. The topics accelerate and strengthen applied research in both countries and strengthen research into societal challenges and thus create opportunities for both Dutch and German companies in applying the results.
Intensive cross-border cooperation
Paul de Krom, CEO of TNO at the digital signing ceremony: “I passionately believe in cross-border cooperation. Because societal challenges do not stop at our borders. These can only be tackled effectively through intensive cross-border cooperation. Not as a luxury, but as a necessity. Not by postponing until tomorrow, but by starting today.”
Professor Reimund Neugebauer, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: “Fraunhofer and TNO want to extend their partnership by signing this MoU. This will not only create more research results, the intensified cooperation will for sure deliver cutting-edge solutions for our innovation systems - e.g. in the fields of mobility, smart industry, and secure information technologies.”
Get inspired
TNO’s goals for 2030
Over the last 9 decades, we’ve developed countless innovations, each with its own impact. And for the coming decades, too, TNO is setting ambitious goals to achieve together with partners.
Critical raw materials: will their scarcity impede the energy transition goals?
Resource scarcity is on the rise. How do we secure Europe from critical raw materials? At TNO, we are working on answers with research.


Subsidence in The Netherlands
What processes cause subsidence? What is the level of subsidence? And how can we predict the amount of subsidence yet to come?


AI Systems Engineering & Lifecycle Management
The AI system for the future. At TNO, we work on AI systems that remain reliable and can handle new functions in the future.


ECN now TNO
In 2018, research organisations ECN and TNO merged. Then-minister Kamp announced in September 2016 the joining of forces of TNO and ECN into a single energy research centre under the responsibility of TNO.