I joined Fraunhofer FIT as a researcher in October 2019 because I wanted to be part of the wave of innovation in digitilization that is currently fundamentally changing our world.
I had got to know Fraunhofer when I worked there as a graduate student in computer science at RWTH Aachen University. Even then, I realized the innovative power of the institutes and their close cooperation with industry. The productive interaction and the sharing of ideas among the researchers was an exciting experience for me.
In the Cooperation Systems department at FIT, I immediately received a lot of trust from my colleagues, together with the appropriate responsibility in industrial projects. Here, we are at the leading edge of developing various technologies that are not yet ready for the market, such as blockchain networks for flexible green energy, forgery-proof digital certificates, or safety-critical and traceable supply chains. I am mostly involved in teams from different organizations, working with experts who helped me to get started and support me in building my own expertise. And I really enjoy having access to cool gadgets, like the latest virtual reality goggles or humanoid robots, and getting to work on my own small projects with them.
If you aim for a career in a commercial setting but want to better understand the future technologies involved, and if you are willing to share your knowledge with other nascent experts, then Fraunhofer is highly recommended. It may even lead to you becoming a pioneer in the field.