Forschungszentrum Jülich

Forschungszentrum Jülich is one of the largest interdisciplinary research institutions in Europe and contributes to solving the grand societal challenges. Here, almost 7,450 employees from 114 countries working hand in hand including 1,457 visiting scientists from 72 countries. They conduct interdisciplinary research into the fundamentals, technologies and systems for a digitalised society, a climate-friendly energy system, and a sustainable economy. The scientists focus their research in the natural, life and and engineering sciences on the areas of information, energy and bioeconomy and combine this with specialist expertise in high-performance computing and artificial intelligence. The research centre operates and utilize unique scientific infrastructures and makes them available to external users.

Research topics

Scientists at Jülich are exploring the whole range of existing options for converting and storing energy produced from fossil and renewable sources. Jülich environmental and climate research aims to understand the impact of energy generation and conversion on the ecosystem and the climate, and to refine climate models. Nuclear waste management is also part of Jülich’s portfolio.

The research fields concerned with information and the brain aim to understand the complex processes in the healthy brain and to use this knowledge to diagnose and treat neurodegenerative diseases more reliably and earlier than is currently possible. With some 86 billion nerve cells, the healthy human brain is a gigantic control center – with a comparatively small energy consumption. Understanding how it works could pave the way towards new approaches in information technology. Scientists at Jülich are also examining materials and electronic phenomena for future computer generations.

Collaborations

Excellent researchers who cooperate across the borders of institutes, research centers, and even countries are Jülich’s greatest strength. To foster collaboration with the best partners throughout the world, Jülich participates in strategic alliances both in Germany and abroad. All in all, Forschungszentrum Jülich has more than 200 partners in Germany and worldwide. These include universities and scientific institutions as well as industrial enterprises.

Support for young talent

Forschungszentrum Jülich places particular emphasis on supporting the next generation of scientists. At Jülich, undergraduates and PhD students benefit from a working environment with state-of-the-art instruments and international contacts, as well as the opportunity to conduct independent research at an early stage of their career. Showing school children and teenagers how much fun science can be is another task that Jülich has set itself, offering them the chance to perform experiments hands-on in the JuLab Schools Laboratory or to apply for work placements. Forschungszentrum Jülich also provides certified vocational training. Since it was established, Jülich has trained around 4,600 young people, laying the foundation for their personal development and professional future.

Forschungszentrum Jülich