The Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology (IPK), part of Europe’s largest applied research organisation, has been a pioneer in the use of benchmarking for decades. Benchmarking, the practice of comparing processes, performance and outcomes against peers to identify strengths and areas for improvement, is now a familiar concept, but Fraunhofer played a major role in shaping it. Since the 1990s, the Institute has helped to build global networks and methodologies that set the standard for how benchmarking is applied in industry through its Information Centre for Benchmarking (IZB). Today, the IZB, led by Florian Kidschun, continues to embed these approaches into international research and consulting projects.
Fraunhofer IPK supports businesses worldwide, particularly in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, to strengthen competitiveness, embrace digital transformation, and respond to urgent global challenges such as sustainability and AI adoption.
A key barrier for many economies is diffusing good practice from high performing ‘frontier firms’ into the wider business population. Many companies lack the tools and confidence to adopt proven methods, uncertain of where to focus and how to achieve the greatest return on investment of time, money, and resources. Without a credible, comparative evidence base, it is difficult to build the leadership commitment required to act on recommendations.
Fraunhofer uses the Growth and Performance Platform as a starting point for engagement with businesses. The Platform offers:
Fraunhofer uses this evidence and the Platform’s clear, visual output reports to highlight performance gaps and opportunities. These insights feed directly into the development of targeted, high impact action plans and proposals for change, giving both consultant and client a strong, data driven foundation for transformation.
“What sets the Growth and Performance Platform apart is its holistic and credible analysis. Unlike many tools that rely only on financial data, it gives a full picture of organisational performance through the balanced scorecard approach. With over 20 years of continuously updated global data, the comparisons are meaningful and robust. And because the insights are presented so clearly, leaders can quickly understand them, act on them, and commit to change.” Florian Kidschun, Head of Information Centre Benchmarking, Fraunhofer IPK
For Fraunhofer, the Growth and Performance Platform is a trusted tool for creating impact with clients. It enables consultants to identify the most pressing issues quickly, build confidence through robust evidence, and design strategic roadmaps that are more likely to secure leadership buy-in and deliver lasting change.
Beyond individual projects, the Platform’s international reach and 20+ years of comparative data make it a valuable resource for sharing best practice across countries and sectors. By helping firms learn from the successes of high performers, it supports efforts to boost productivity and tackle major challenges such as sustainability, digital adoption (including AI), and resilience.
“The platform gives us a holistic, data-driven view of company performance. Its global database and balanced scorecard approach allow us to identify gaps, compare with peers, and derive actionable insights. For us, it’s the perfect door opener, a low-barrier, credible way to start strategic projects and help clients commit to change.” Florian Kidschun, Head of Information Centre Benchmarking, Fraunhofer Institute
The GC Insight Growth and Performance Platform is helping leading organisations like Fraunhofer deliver value to the businesses they serve and tackle today’s biggest economic, social, and environmental challenges.
Discover how the Platform can help you unlock growth, boost productivity, and build resilience here.
