Fraunhofer is throwing a big bash today in its new office in San Jose — its first U.S. office for audio coding.

The new Audio and Multimedia Division of Fraunhofer USA hopes to promote audio coding and multimedia real-time system technologies — like MPEG Surround, MP3 Surround, AAC Low Delay and Mobile-TV — to Silicon Valley companies and other U.S. customers.

According to the general manager of the new division, Robert Bleidt, Silicon Valley-based technology companies like Cisco, Harmonic and Palm have used Fraunhofer-developed technologies such as MP3, AAC, and H.264 for years.

The Bavarian state minister for economic affairs, infrastructure, transport and technologies will speak at the opening at 100 Century Center Court, as well as representatives from Fraunhofer and San Jose.

Fraunhofer intends to demo its new surround sound technology at the event.