Germany's Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Europe's largest institution for applied research in computer graphics, in collaboration with Nanyang Technological University (NTU), is setting up its first interactive digital media research institute outside of Europe and the United States. 
 
Fraunhofer, with 60 research institutes and an annual research budget of 1.5 billion Euros, is partnering NTU to set up Fraunhofer Singapore, which will focus on promoting applied research and commercialisation opportunities in the field of Interactive Digital Media (IDM). To be located at NTU, the institute will work on research areas of interest related to current requirements of the market and the economy, such as computer graphics, computer vision, virtual reality and augmented reality.

President NTU, Dr Su Guaning says: “This is the first time that Fraunhofer has come to Asia to set up such an institute. That they have chosen NTU as their research partner in the area of computer graphics, interactive digital media, virtual reality and augmented reality, speaks volumes for NTU’s research and innovation culture and the strength of our engineers and scientists at NTU. We are delighted to partner one of the most hugely regarded computer graphics powerhouses of Europe.”

The agreement to set up Fraunhofer Singapore was signed on 25 November 2009 by NTU Provost Professor Bertil Andersson (second from left) and Fraunhofer IGD Director Professor Dieter W. Fellner (second from right), with His Excellency Mr Jörg Ranau, German Ambassador to Singapore (right) and NTU President Dr Su Guaning as witnesses (left)