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Research Infrastructures

Accelerator facilities, experimental facilities, research ships or supercomputers - large-scale research facilities form the basis for scientific advances in tackling global societal challenges. Managing national research infrastructure is part of the Helmholtz Association's mission.

The electron linear accelerator XFEL. Image: DESY

The development, construction and operation of complex research facilities for an international user community are a core element in the mission of the Helmholtz Association. Our research facilities exemplify the division of tasks in the German science system and the cooperation with German as well as foreign universities and research institutions. More than ten thousand external scientists from more than thirty nations work at our research facilities every year. 

On this page you will find an overview of the most important large research facilities of the Helmholtz Association, including mainly classical user facilities, which offer dedicated user operation for third parties, i.e., for researchers from Germany or abroad (mostly from universities or non-university research institutions).

Accelerator

Energy of the future

Earth and environment observation

Grid- and supercomputing

High magnetic fields

Ion plants

Light sources

Aeronautics and astronautics

Particles and cosmos

Material development

Neutron Sources

Nano and micro technology

OMICS

Contact

Christian Beilmann

Chief Research Manager Information
Helmholtz Association

Ilja Bohnet

Chief Research Manager Matter
Helmholtz Association

Cathrin Brüchmann

Chief Research Manager Earth and Environment
Helmholtz Association

Juliane Kampe

Chief Research Manager Health
Helmholtz Association

Lisa Suntrup

Chief Research Manager Energy
Helmholtz Association

Sören Wiesenfeldt

Head of Department Research
Helmholtz Association

Roadmap - outlook for future development

In 2011, the Helmholtz Association presented for the first time a roadmap coordinated across research fields on possible lines of development for its research facilities. In 2015, it updated some of the plans. Since then, a large number of the designated projects have been implemented. In 2021, the Helmholtz Association presented its new planned research infrastructures for the current decade at a symposium.

Helmholtz Roadmap Research infrastructures 2021

In 2011, the Helmholtz Association presented for the first time a roadmap on possible lines of development for its research facilities. In 2015, some of the plans were updated. Since then, a large number of the designated projects have been implemented. In 2021, the Helmholtz Association presented its new planned research infrastructures for the current decade at a symposium.

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Research with accelerator-based light sources

The German Electron Synchrotron, DESY in Hamburg, the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, HZB as well as the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, HZDR have developed a joint future planning for the accelerator-based light sources they operate in Hamburg, Berlin and Dresden. A summary of the strategy is provided in the brochure "Strengthening Research and Innovation" (tablet optimized PDF on 16 pages).

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Large Research Infrastructures (English)

Matter matters

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