Dresden is the center of a highly dynamic region and belongs to the leading research sites of Germany. Furthermore the institute offers its services at additional sites in Germany and abroad.
In Dresden, the IWS strongly cooperates with the Chair of Laser and Surface Technology of the University of Technology Dresden (faculty Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Surface and Manufacturing).
The Fraunhofer IWS application center for optical metrology and surface technologies bridges the gap between regional economy and new research approaches in the fields of optical metrology, machine vision and bio-photonics.
The Fraunhofer IWS is a partner at the Dortmunder OberflächenCentrum DOC and has a project group operating on site. This group develops coating processes based on PVD, PACVD and spraying techniques as well as focuses on laser materials processing.
Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS