“With the opening of ENIQ on the EUREF campus in Berlin-Schöneberg, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is taking a new approach to expanding knowledge transfer in the field of energy research. We are delighted with this successful facility, which has the potential to bring technical innovations even faster to the relevant target groups for the advancement of the energy transition," says Andreas Feicht, State Secretary at the  Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy at the inauguration on June 29, 2021.

More than 2,000 employees in 20 Fraunhofer Institutes conduct research and development for a climate-neutral, secure and just energy supply, making Fraunhofer Energy Research one of the largest energy research institutions in Europe. 

“To transfer Fraunhofer innovations in energy research to practical applications even more efficiently, a central platform is needed that brings together stakeholders from business, science, politics and society to develop common needs and solutions for the energy transition," says Prof. Reimund Neugebauer, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.

Infrastructure Promotes Knowledge Transfer of Fraunhofer Energy Research

ENIQ has an infrastructure that brings together all of the key players in the energy transition. The focus is on applied energy research and the technological and systemic solutions offered by Fraunhofer. Key topics are energy system issues, energy infrastructures, renewable energy, energy storage, energy efficiency or the digitalization of the energy system.

With an area of 1250 square meters, the ENIQ has two rooms for workshops, three offices, a large open-air event area, an auditorium with stair seating and an exhibition area. The infrastructure is designed to accommodate both large and small events.  The showroom contains digital demonstrators as well as technology exhibits that regularly change to flank the on-site events and provide a technology showcase for Fraunhofer energy research. At the opening ceremony, the technologies on display were heat pumps, geothermal energy, photovoltaics, hydrogen technology and interactive platforms on energy data.

ENIQ’s activities are based on the research topics of Fraunhofer Energy Research. Numerous digital events have already taken place and there are some on the agenda. The target groups are municipal utilities and energy suppliers, mobility providers, the financial sector, construction and real estate industries, as well as science, associations, and politics at the parliamentary and ministerial levels. On-site events are becoming increasingly possible. For example, a "Hydrogen Networking Day" and a matchmaking event with local companies are scheduled to be held on the EUREF campus in the fourth quarter of 2021.