Our Divisions

The Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering consists of the three divisions Embedded Systems, Process Management, and Information Systems. The different areas can be seen in the organizational chart.

Hidden in transportation systems, medical devices, consumer goods, and almost all other technical products, embedded systems are performing essential tasks that make our daily lives safer and more comfortable. Every year, more than three billion embedded components and devices are manufactured, incorporating 98% percent of all microprocessors built. Embedded systems are comnipresent, and our modern economy and society would be unable to survive without them. The requirements regarding the reliability and functional safety of such systems are correspondingly high. Failures can rarely be tolerated – particularly when such failures might jeopardize people or the environment. At the same time, the systems are quickly becoming more complex, are highly interconnected, are developed in a distributed manner, and must also fulfill numerous, partly contradictory, functional and non-functional requirements at the same time. To  master this challenge, the division “Embedded Systems” focuses on innovative methods and techniques for the cost-efficient development of highly dependable and safe systems. The division is organized into three departments dedicated to “Systems Engineering”, “Software Engineering”, and “Embedded Systems Quality Assurance”.

Here you can find further information about the Fraunhofer IESE and the division "Embedded Systems".

Software-based systems are becoming ever more important in our professional and private lives. Autonomous driving, Industry 4.0, Internet of Things, or Big Data represent innovations for which software is the enabler. The general trend towards digitalization, however, also leads to various challenges that must be managed with regard to the development of software-based systems. The complexity of the systems, for instance, is increasing continually. On the one hand, technical and business processes – controlled by these systems – are becoming more complex. On the other hand, systems are also increasingly being interconnected with each other in order to provide added value for the customer compared to individual solutions. Product innovation cycles are also getting shorter: In the area of web-based applications, we speak of continuous deployment of new functionality. This trend towards digitalization and system integration also leads to the creation of completely new business models – for instance on the basis of Big Data analyses. The division “Process Management” of Fraunhofer IESE deals with how a company must position itself in order to address these challenges in terms of processes. This refers to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of development processes of software-based systems as well as to optimizing business and workflow processes on the basis of IT. The process improvement methods are distributed across two competence areas: the department “Data Engineering” deals with data-based methods and the department “Process Engineering” deals with experience-based approaches.

Here you can find furhter information about the Fraunhofer IESE and the division "Process Management".

Modern business life has become inconceivable without secure and user-friendly systems and mobile applications. Billions of transactions are performed every single day. From ERP systems via CRM systems to online portals for various services such as online banking, social networks, eCommerce, and eGovernment – we offer you excellent know-how for your information systems. The Information Systems division develops innovative methods and solutions for the development of complex information systems and interactive systems. In order to offer immediate added value, we apply our methods directly during our customers’ product development and/ or transfer our methods and solutions to our customers. These include organizations that use software solutions for their business processes, e.g., from the banking and insurance sector or from the domain of medical IT systems, organizations from such areas as public administration and defense, as well as software-developing companies (both large corporations and SMEs).

Here you can find furhter information about the Fraunhofer IESE and the division "Process Management".