A grand opening against a historic backdrop: Toni Ortlieb, Holger Hanselka, Markus Söder and Father Heinz Menz cutting the ribbon to officially open the Benediktbeuern Glassworks (from left to right: Timo Mappes, Deutsches Optisches Museum Jena; Michael Decker, Deutsches Museum; Toni Ortlieb, Mayor of Benediktbeuern; Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft; Markus Söder, Minister-President of Bavaria; Father Heinz Menz, Benediktbeuern Abbey; Markus Speidel, Münchner Stadtmuseum and Andreas Bräu as Joseph von Fraunhofer)

José María De Teresa (European Physical Society, EPS), Ulrike Woggon (German Physical Society, DPG), Andreas Bräu as Joseph von Fraunhofer and Holger Hanselka (Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft) unveiling the plaque designating the historic glassworks in Benediktbeuern an "EPS Historic Site"

Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, welcomed the distinguished guests, including Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder and Deutsches Museum Director General Michael Decker, against the historic backdrop of Benediktbeuern Abbey. (from left to right: Dr. Markus Speidel, Münchner Stadtmuseum, Andreas Bräu as Joseph von Fraunhofer, Pater Heinz Menz, Kloster Benediktbeuern; Prof. Timo Mappes, Deutsches Optisches Museum Jena; Monika Landgraf, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft; Thomas Holz, MdL; Dr. Markus Söder, Bavarian Minister-President; Prof. Michael Decker, Deutsches Museum; Prof. Holger Hanselka, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft; Ludwig Schmid, Landrat Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen)

Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, welcomed the distinguished guests, including Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder and Deutsches Museum Director General Michael Decker, against the historic backdrop of Benediktbeuern Abbey. At 24, Joseph von Fraunhofer took charge of the abbey’s glassworks. A native of Straubing, he rose from working as a glass grinder to become a world-renowned research scientist and successful entrepreneur.

In his tribute, Hanselka hailed him as a visionary whose approach continues to shape the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft today: “Joseph von Fraunhofer was at once a researcher, craftsman and entrepreneur. He remains a role model for us because he seamlessly combined excellence in research and precision craftsmanship with the entrepreneurial ability to bring innovations to market. That same mindset remains at the heart of everything we do at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Working with companies, we translate research findings into market-ready solutions, creating value from knowledge.”

With this legacy in mind, Hanselka highlighted the pivotal role of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Germany’s innovation landscape. Through close collaboration with industry and public-sector partners, its applied research bridges the gap between scientific discoveries and the needs of business and society. “The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft puts knowledge to work. Our applied research transforms research findings into practical technologies, processes and solutions for business and society. At a time of profound technological and economic change, this role is indispensable: innovation must reach people and markets faster,” said Hanselka.

Bavarian minister-president Markus Söder said: “Bavaria is where innovation meets identity. The devastating hailstorm that struck Benediktbeuern in 2023 dealt a severe blow to Bavaria’s cultural heritage. Now, with the restoration of the glassworks, another piece of that heritage has been brought back to life—with 2 million euros in funding from the Free State of Bavaria. Our greatest resource is human ingenuity: Science and research are among our key strengths in global competition. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft plays a central role in this. Its world-class applied research benefits small and medium-sized enterprises and family-owned companies in particular—the backbone of our economy. Bavaria is a strong and reliable partner for the research community. Through Germany’s High-Tech Agenda, backed by 6 billion euros in investment, we are systematically expanding our research capabilities—from life sciences and artificial intelligence to defense technology and aerospace. In a competitive world, this is the only way to secure prosperity and jobs for the long term. Technology shapes our future—and improves people’s lives.”

Michael Decker, Director General of the Deutsches Museum, said: “The prism spectrometer, grating spectrometer and refracting telescope are among the Deutsches Museum’s most valuable artifacts from Joseph von Fraunhofer’s workshop. These pioneering historic innovations show people just how vital research is to our shared future. But we do more than preserve and interpret cultural heritage. Through programs like our annual Future Festival, where Fraunhofer institute researchers regularly present their projects, we build bridges between research and society. The glassworks we are officially reopening today will once again serve as a direct connection.”

The Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO unveiled the new Fraunhofer avatar, part of an innovative exhibition concept that uses modern digital technology to bring the story of Fraunhofer’s namesake to life. The Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP developed and implemented the modern concept in collaboration with Fraunhofer Corporate Communications and other contributors. José María De Teresa, President of the European Physical Society (EPS), then presented the EPS Historic Site award, which recognizes sites across Europe that have played a significant role in the development and history of physics. The stage program concluded with a ceremonial move to the historic glassworks, where the guests of honor officially reopened the building and unveiled a commemorative plaque. Guests then toured the reopened glassworks, which has been completely repaired following extensive damage from a severe storm in 2023.

A musical program featuring works chosen for their historical and thematic connections to Joseph von Fraunhofer and his era framed the commemorative ceremony. The event conveyed a clear message: Joseph von Fraunhofer’s legacy is far more than a historic achievement—it is a living mission for our time. His method of consistently turning insights into market-ready applications remains key to Germany’s capacity for innovation. Hanselka summarized the message: “Joseph von Fraunhofer passed away two hundred years ago, but his principle of applied research is as vital today as it was at the outset. Let us continue down this path together, in the spirit of the man we honor here in Benediktbeuern today.”

Bayerischer Rundfunk covered the event.

Learn more about the eponym of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Joseph von Fraunhofer Commemorative Year 2026

Learn more about the redesigned exhibition at the glassworks in Benediktbeuern here: Press Release from Fraunhofer IAO: Joseph von Fraunhofer guides visitors through his historic workplace as an AI avatar (only available in German)