FOGRA
From ColorWiki
FOGRA is a German-based Research Institute for the graphic arts. They are very actively involved in maintaining several ISO standards (ISO TC 130) concerning color management and printing. Based on ISO standards, they developed a system of certifications for print providers. proofing systems and proof providers known as FOGRAcert. www.fogra.org
from the FOGRA website:
Fogra Graphic Technology Research Association
The objective of Fogra Forschungsgesellschaft Druck e.V. (Fogra Graphic Technology Research Association) is to promote print engineering and its future-oriented technologies in the fields of research, development and application, and to enable the printing industry to utilize the results of this activity. To this end the association maintains its own institute, with about 50 staff members including engineers, chemists and physicists.
The estimated budget for 2007 is approximately EUR 5 million. About 20% of this is made up of membership fees, with about a tenth of this coming from the Bundesverband Druck und Medien e.V. (German Printing and Media Industries Federation).
Research grants from the Federal German Government, the state of Bavaria, the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt and the Bundesverband Druck und Medien account for roughly 40%, with the principal share of over 25% coming from the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie [Federal Ministries of Economics and Technology] and being administered by the German Federation of Industrial Cooperative Research Associations AiF.
About a third of the revenues are generated from other Fogra activities. These consist of technical reports, contract research, the sale of quality control devices, vocational training, and a literature database.
The remaining revenues are made up of donations and other receipts. The donations usually consist of equipment or printing papers for research purposes.
Fogra has over 600 members. About two-thirds of the membership are graphic art businesses operating in fields ranging from prepress to bookbinding, while the remaining third are suppliers. A third of the members are based outside of Germany.
The eight Technical Committees, responsible for various specialist topics, are a central part of Fogra. In these committees, specialists from printing businesses, and Fogra staff, define industry problems which are to be studied. The progress and results of work are also discussed at the committee meetings. Thus the committees fulfill a creative and a monitoring function. At the same time they characterize the work style of a collective research institute which meets the needs of the printing industry.
A comprehensive pack of information about Fogra is available upon request with no obligation.