The board of trustees is an external advisory body of the institutes and advises the directors of the institute and the executive board on specialized direction and structural changes of the institute. About twelve members of the board of trustees per institute – consisting of representatives of science, economy, politics and public life – are appointed by the executive board of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in agreement with the direction of the institute. At least one member of the executive board attends the board meeting. The board of trustees meets once a year to get an overview of the achievements of the institute and to give important impulses for the future strategic orientation.