At present approximately 1100 persons are employed at Fraunhofer ISE. 400 of these hold permanent positions. With more than 120 doctoral students, more than 120 diploma students, numerous practical trainees and part-time student employees, the Institute contributes to educating and training highly qualified people for future work in the research and development of solar energy technology.

The research work at the Institute is carried out in offices, laboratories and test fields, which cover an area of over 27 000m².

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE conducts research on the technology needed to supply energy efficiently and on an environmentally sound basis in industrialised, threshold and developing countries. To this purpose, the Institute develops systems, components, materials and processes for the following business areas:

• Energy-Efficient Buildings
• Applied Optics and Functional Surfaces
• Silicon Photovoltaics
• Alternative Photovoltaic Technology
• Renewable Power Generation
• Hydrogen Technology
• Solar Thermal Technology

The Fraunhofer ISE Laboratory and Service Center Gelsenkirchen and the Technology Center for semiconductor Materials THM, Freiberg – the latter in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Intergrated Systems and Device Technology IISB – are dedicated
to solar cell and semiconductor development respectively.

The Institute is integrated into a network of national and international co-operation. In particular, it can draw on the competence of other Fraunhofer Institutes and thus can prepare complete, interdisciplinary solutions. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems is a member of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the leading organisation for applied research in Germany with about 18 000 employees in 80 research establishments.