New dual leadership takes office

After the ceremonial handover of the President’s office (link) earlier this week, Martin Keller officially assumes the presidency of the Helmholtz Association today. With him, Germany’s largest research organization gains an internationally respected science manager who is returning to Germany after nearly three decades in the United States. Most recently, he directed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado — one of the world’s leading research institutions for renewable energy.

“Over the next few months, I would like to get to know Helmholtz even better and visit many of its 18 centers. Strengthening team spirit is particularly important to me, both in the head office and between the centers, as well as across all six research fields. This will allow Helmholtz to fully leverage the strength of its cross-cutting mindset. Together with Sabine and the entire Helmholtz community, I would like to develop a clear agenda for change to tackle the major challenges of our time in a solution-oriented manner. We have at most ten years to set the decisive course in terms of climate change, energy supply and medicine. We must act immediately, in close cooperation with our partners in politics, science and industry,” says Martin Keller.

Sabine Helling-Mogen is joining him as Managing Director today. An experienced science manager, she knows Helmholtz from many perspectives: she began her career at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), worked in the Helmholtz Association’s head office, and served as Administrative Director of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) for over a decade. In her new role, she will support, advise and represent the President in the performance of his duties and manage the Association’s head offices in Berlin and Bonn together with their branches in Brussels, Tel Aviv, and Beijing. As a special representative for administrative affairs, she will represent the Helmholtz Association both externally and internally. Alongside the President and Vice Presidents, the Managing Director is a member of the Helmholtz Association’s Executive Committee. Sabine Helling-Moegen was recently named one of the most influential figures in German science management in the “100 Top of the Table 2025” series by Research.Table Professional Briefing.

“We are entering an exciting and at the same time challenging phase — both in science management in general and at Helmholtz in particular. This ranges from the strategic evaluation of our programs to implementing Germany’s High-Tech Agenda. Martin Keller and I see ourselves as a tandem that can only succeed through close collaboration with the centers and the head office team. We want to address topics that matter to many centers and turn them into shared impulses for the entire Helmholtz Association. Strong centers benefit from a strong association. Especially in the international context, that’s a win-win situation,” says Sabine Helling-Moegen.

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