Research in Germany: Research Infrastructures

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Research Infrastructures

???aural:Bildanfang???The Neumayer-Station III is a German research station in the Arctic operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI).The Neumayer-Station III is a German research station in the Arctic operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI). © AWI / Ude Cieluch???aural:Bildende???

Germany is home to several research infrastructures with global significance. These include:

  • Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
  • German Climate Computing Centre (DKRZ)
  • Research Vessel “Polarstern” 

Germany also contributes to the funding of infrastructures in other countries, e.g. the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland. Germany provides 20% of CERN's budget, making it the largest contributor of funding to this most renowned centre of fundamental physics.

Research Activities

Research activities are performed in physics (fundamental research), earth sciences, climate research and humanities.

Research Budget

The Federal Government provides the majority of funding for large-scale equipment in basic research with an annual budget of 855 million euros (2010). The budget is also supplemented by international funding sources.

View along the storage ring PETRA III with bending magnets (blue), focusing magnets (red) and undulators (yellow) in the range of the photon experimental hall.

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)

DESY was founded in 1959. Today, it is an internationally renowned centre of fundamental research and one of the world’s leading institutions investigating the structure of matter. DESY is a member of the Helmholtz Association and is supported by public funds.

DKRZ operates one of the most powerful computers worldwide.

German Climate Computing Centre (DKRZ)

The German Climate Computing Centre (DKRZ) provides services for climate researchers. Founded as a company with limited liability (GmbH) in 1987, the DKRZ is a non-profit and non-commercial research centre.

The Polarstern is a polar research vessel operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI).

Research Vessel "Polarstern"

The Polarstern was first commissioned in 1982. Since then, she has completed more than thirty expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic. Specially designed for working in the polar seas, the Polarstern is currently the most sophisticated polar research vessel in the world.

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