Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films ISTA Fraunhofer Innovation Platform is a temporary Fraunhofer-esque research unit operated by a university or a non-commercial research institution in a foreign country in close cooperation with one or more Fraunhofer institutes in Germany and initially established for a period of five years. In order to exploit, transfer and commercialize scientific research results, the collaborating partners develop a common strategy and a unique business offering in which they synergistically combine their complementary expertise.