The International Audio Laboratories Erlangen (AudioLabs®) research center, founded in 2010, is unique worldwide in both its mission and international approach: A team of globally-renowned scientists is working to shape the future of audio and multimedia technologies in research areas such as audio coding, audio signal analysis and perceptual spatial audio signal processing. AudioLabs is a joint institution of Fraunhofer IIS and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). The University provides six professorship positions to the research center and guarantees the scientific integration into the academic environment. Fraunhofer IIS provided a budget to fund AudioLabs for an initial period of ten years. AudioLabs benefits from Fraunhofer IIS' extensive history and expertise in the field of audio and multimedia technologies. The close cooperation of both partners allows for a unique organization with competencies ranging from basic research and teaching to technology implementation in innovative multimedia systems. AudioLabs is located on the premises of Fraunhofer IIS. Being in the vicinity of both the University and the Audio & Multimedia division of Fraunhofer IIS, this location enables close scientific collaboration in an ideal way. In addition, it allows for use of the modern infrastructure of Fraunhofer IIS including acoustics labs, recording studios or digital cinema labs.