Cooperations & institutes

DESY operates within strong networks.

Global cooperation and close links with partners from all over the world are essential for cutting-edge research today. Each year, DESY’s unique facilities draw more than 3000 guest scientists from over 40 countries to Hamburg. To work as closely as possible with DESY, more and more institutions are establishing outstations on the campus itself.

DESY's Hamburg partners and their locations on the campus.
DESY's Hamburg partners and their locations on the campus. Graphic: DESY

DESY’s partnerships

The Center for Free-Electron Laser Science is a centre of excellence for research at new-generation light sources that is unique in Europe.

  • DESY’s contribution to CFEL
  • More about CFEL

The Center for Computing in Natural Sciences combines scientific research with state-of-the-art information technology.

  • DESY’s contribution to CDCS

The Centre for Structural Systems Biology is an interdisciplinary centre for infectious diseases reseach.

  • DESY’s contribution to CSSB
  • More about CSSB

The Centre for X-ray and Nano Science is a centre for research with X-rays in combination with nano and materials sciences.

  • DESY’s contribution to CXNS
  • More about CXNS

The Centre for Quantum Technology and Applications at DESY in Zeuthen researches and develops applications for new types of quantum computers.

The Wolfgang Pauli Centre brings together various theory groups from DESY and the University of Hamburg.

  • More about WPC

DESY is working on the realisation of the interdisciplinary Centre for Molecular Water Science.

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory maintains an outstation for structural biology at DESY.

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon maintains an outstation for materials research at DESY focusing on climate, coastal and technology issues.

The Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter studies the dynamic phenomena that occur in matter on the timescales of atomic and electronic motion.

The research campus in Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld is home to several institutes of the University that work closely with DESY.

In addition, the following Clusters of Excellence make use of DESY’s research infrastructures:

The strategic Partnership for Innovation, Education and Research strengthens cooperation between DESY and the University of Hamburg.

  • DESY’s contribution to PIER
  • More about PIER

The Start-up Labs Hamburg act as an incubator for deep-tech start-ups with a physical or biophysical focus. The innovation centre is a joint project of DESY, the University of Hamburg and the City of Hamburg.

Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld will be an integrated location for science and research, business and innovation, housing and living as well as leisure and mobility. With its large-scale research facilities, DESY will form the core of the new district.

Facilities & projects

The particle accelerators and detectors that DESY develops and builds are unique research tools. DESY also participates in major international projects in particle and astroparticle physics. 

Visualisation of the PETRA IV particle accelerator.

PETRA IV: A discovery machine for uncharted scientific territory


Thanks to PETRA IV's ultrabright X-ray light, researchers will be able to investigate natural phenomena and technical processes in new dimensions.

Learn more about PETRA IV

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