Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V. – Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research (FRAUNHOFER) is the world's leading institute for applied research in the field of visual computing. Visual computing stands for image- and model-based information technology. It includes computer graphics, computer vision, as well as virtual and augmented reality.

Fraunhofer develops prototypes and complete solutions based on customer demands. The range of applications of the concepts, models, and practical solutions spans from virtual product development to medicine, commerce, and multimedia learning and training. The research and development projects of Fraunhofer are directly related to current requirements of market and economy. Numerous spin-offs ensure that prototypes are quickly brought to market. Together with its partner universities, Fraunhofer also performs key technology research and cooperates with companies of various industrial sectors. Apart from its headquarters in Darmstadt, Fraunhofer has locations in Rostock, Graz and Singapore. Currently, it has about 180 employees (full-time equivalent) and its budget exceeds 15 million Euros.

The FRAUNHOFER department “Interactive Engineering Technologies (IET) will be involved In VELaSSCo. In the IET department we pursue applied technology research in the area of design, analysis, visualization and interpretation. Our research enhances human-computer interaction and supports the user’s workflow using computer graphics technologies. This simplifies decisions during the work flow and operational sequences become more reliable and efficient. In the process we focus on the following topics: Geometric Processing, Interactive Simulation, Real-time Visualization and Semantic Computing from which real-time visualization is the most relevant in VELaSSCo.

In real-time visualization our main research focus is on interactive scientific visualization methods for large data sets allowing the user to gain insights, interpretations and knowledge quickly. In our developments we use the latest GPU programming techniques leveraging massively parallel programmable graphics hardware. Furthermore, we also develop interactive web applications for the visualization of simulation results. One of the key results of this research is the scientific visualization framework iFX which became the basis for the 3D front-end of a commercial simulation tool with an installation basis of approx. 15.000 seats world-wide.

Fraunhofer has longstanding experience in related EC-funded projects, most recently the STREPs: VISTRA, MAXIMUS, IMPROVE, VisiCADE, WIDE; the IPs: IQmulus, 3D-COFORM, IntellCities; the NoE: AIM@SHAPE; the CSAs: FocusK3D, DigiBIC; the JTI: CleanSky.

In VELaSSCo, FRAUNHOFER will be the leader of WP4 and build on its experience in managing collaborative research projects. From the scientific point of view, FRAUNHOFER will perform research and development in sophisticated interactive visualization methods for WP4 based on its background knowledge iFX and RPE.