The Hamburg R&D ecosystem
Hamburg is ranked number 37 of 392 R&D ecosystems in the 311 Institute directory, with 56 labs within about 120 kilometres: 38 research institutes, 13 government, 3 university and 2 intergovernmental. Leading organisations include Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Leibniz Association, Max Planck Society and Helmholtz Association, focused on oceanography, atmospheric science, genetics and ecology.
Part of the 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory. Compiled by Matthew Griffin. Last updated .
Why these labs matter
All 56 labs
| Lab and organisation | Location | Type and sector | Focus | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bundesinstitut für Kultur und Geschichte des östlichen EuropaBundesinstitut für Kultur und Geschichte des östlichen Europa | Oldenburg, Germany | Government Social sciences and humanities | History, Literature and Literary Theory, Sociology and Political Science | |
| Wehrtechnische Dienststelle für Schiffe und Marinewaffen, Maritime Technologie und ForschungBundeswehr | Eckernförde, Germany | Government Environment and climate | Oceanography, Ocean Engineering, Aerospace Engineering | |
| Fraunhofer IAPT (Additive Manufacturing Technologies)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Hamburg, Germany | Government Industrials and manufacturing | 3D printing | |
| Fraunhofer IFAM (Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Bremen, Germany | Government Chemicals and materials | Materials, Adhesives | |
| Fraunhofer IMTE (Individualized Medical Technology and Engineering)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Lübeck, Germany | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Medical devices | |
| Fraunhofer ISIT (Silicon Technology)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Itzehoe, Germany | Government Technology | Power electronics, MEMS | |
| Fraunhofer IWES (Wind Energy Systems)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Bremerhaven, Germany | Government Energy and resources | Offshore wind | |
| Fraunhofer MEVIS (Digital Medicine)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Bremen, Germany | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Medical imaging, AI | |
| German Coastal Engineering Research CouncilGerman Coastal Engineering Research Council | Hamburg, Germany | Government Nuclear | Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Earth-Surface Processes, Atmospheric Science | 1973 |
| Alfred Wegener InstituteHelmholtz Association | Bremerhaven, Germany | Government Environment and climate | Polar and marine research | |
| DESYHelmholtz Association | Hamburg, Germany | Government Basic science | Accelerators, Photon science | |
| GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean ResearchHelmholtz Association | Kiel, Germany | Government Environment and climate | Ocean research | 2004 |
| HereonHelmholtz Association | Geesthacht, Germany | Government Chemicals and materials | Materials, Coastal research | 1956 |
| Oldenburger Institut für InformatikCarl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg | Oldenburg, Germany | University Technology | Hardware and Architecture, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Computational Theory and Mathematics | 1991 |
| Exzellenzcluster Ozean der ZukunftChristian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel | Kiel, Germany | University Environment and climate | Oceanography, Earth-Surface Processes, Global and Planetary Change | 2006 |
| Faserinstitut BremenUniversity of Bremen | Bremen, Germany | University Industrials and manufacturing | Mechanics of Materials, Mechanical Engineering, Polymers and Plastics | |
| EMBL HamburgEMBL | Hamburg, Germany | Intergovernmental Healthcare and life sciences | Structural biology | 1974 |
| European XFELEuropean XFEL | Schenefeld, Germany | Intergovernmental Basic science | X-ray laser | 2009 |
| Institut für Hygiene und UmweltBehörde für Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz | Hamburg, Germany | Research institute Agriculture and food | Food Science, Clinical Biochemistry, Endocrinology | 1892 |
| Bremen Institute for Applied Beam TechnologyBremen Institute for Applied Beam Technology | Bremen, Germany | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Computational Mechanics | 1977 |
| Bremer Institut für Produktion und Logistik GmbHBremer Institut für Produktion und Logistik GmbH | Bremen, Germany | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Marketing | |
| Clinical Research Center KielClinical Research Center Kiel | Kiel, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Food Science, Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Dietetics | |
| ConarisConaris | Kiel, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Oncology, Immunology, Genetics | 1999 |
| Center for Free-Electron Laser ScienceDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY | Hamburg, Germany | Research institute Basic science | Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Radiation, Electrical and Electronic Engineering | 1895 |
| ForWind Zentrum für WindenergieforschungForWind Zentrum für Windenergieforschung | Oldenburg, Germany | Research institute Aerospace, defence and space | Aerospace Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Computational Mechanics | 2003 |
| Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and ServicesFraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Hamburg, Germany | Research institute Environment and climate | Ocean Engineering, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Environmental Engineering | 2010 |
| Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced MaterialsFraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Bremen, Germany | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Mechanics of Materials, Mechanical Engineering, General Materials Science | 1968 |
| Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon TechnologyFraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Itzehoe, Germany | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Chemistry | 1999 |
| Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy SystemsFraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Bremerhaven, Germany | Research institute Aerospace, defence and space | Aerospace Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Atmospheric Science | 2009 |
| German Climate Computing CentreGerman Climate Computing Centre | Hamburg, Germany | Research institute Environment and climate | Global and Planetary Change, Information Systems and Management, Information Systems | 1987 |
| Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und MeeresforschungHelmholtz Association of German Research Centres | Bremerhaven, Germany | Research institute Environment and climate | Atmospheric Science, Oceanography, Global and Planetary Change | 1980 |
| Climate Service CenterHelmholtz-Zentrum Hereon | Hamburg, Germany | Research institute Environment and climate | Global and Planetary Change, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Atmospheric Science | 2014 |
| Independent Centre for Privacy ProtectionIndependent Centre for Privacy Protection | Kiel, Germany | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Sociology and Political Science, Law, Artificial Intelligence | 2000 |
| Infektionsmedizinisches Centrum HamburgInfektionsmedizinisches Centrum Hamburg | Hamburg, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Infectious Diseases, Virology, Emergency Medicine | |
| Institute for Integrative and Experimental GenomicsInstitute for Integrative and Experimental Genomics | Lübeck, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Surgery, Immunology | 2004 |
| Institute of Avian ResearchInstitute of Avian Research | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | Research institute Environment and climate | Ecology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Ecological Modeling | 1910 |
| Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple SclerosisInstitute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis | Hamburg, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Immunology, General Health Professions | |
| Kinderkrebs-Zentrum HamburgKinderkrebs-Zentrum Hamburg | Hamburg, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Molecular Biology, Cancer Research | 2006 |
| German Institute for Global and Area StudiesLeibniz Association | Hamburg, Germany | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Sociology and Political Science, Political Science and International Relations, Development | 1964 |
| Kiel Institute for the World EconomyLeibniz Association | Kiel, Germany | Research institute Public policy and analysis | General Economics, Econometrics and Finance, Strategy and Management, Finance | 1914 |
| Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine ResearchLeibniz Association | Bremen, Germany | Research institute Environment and climate | Ecology, Atmospheric Science, Oceanography | 1991 |
| Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPSLeibniz Association | Bremen, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Physiology, Oncology | 1981 |
| Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics EducationLeibniz Association | Kiel, Germany | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Education, Management Science and Operations Research, Experimental and Cognitive Psychology | 1966 |
| Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV)Leibniz Association | Hamburg, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Epidemiology, Virology, Genetics | 1948 |
| Leibniz-Institut für Werkstofforientierte Technologien - IWTLeibniz Association | Bremen, Germany | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Ecology | 1950 |
| ZBW – Leibniz-Informationszentrum WirtschaftLeibniz Association | Kiel, Germany | Research institute Technology | Information Systems and Management, Information Systems, Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty | 1919 |
| Lower Saxony Institute for Historical Coastal ResearchLower Saxony Institute for Historical Coastal Research | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | Research institute Environment and climate | Space and Planetary Science, Paleontology, Atmospheric Science | 1938 |
| Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private LawMax Planck Society | Hamburg, Germany | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Political Science and International Relations, Law, Strategy and Management | 1926 |
| Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary BiologyMax Planck Society | Plön, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Ecology, Environmental Chemistry | 2007 |
| Max Planck Institute for Marine MicrobiologyMax Planck Society | Bremen, Germany | Research institute Environment and climate | Ecology, Oceanography, Environmental Chemistry | 1992 |
| Max Planck Institute for MeteorologyMax Planck Society | Hamburg, Germany | Research institute Environment and climate | Global and Planetary Change, Atmospheric Science, Oceanography | 1975 |
| Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of MatterMax Planck Society | Hamburg, Germany | Research institute Basic science | Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Condensed Matter Physics, Materials Chemistry | 2014 |
| Max Planck Unit for Structural Molecular BiologyMax Planck Unit for Structural Molecular Biology | Hamburg, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Physiology, Cell Biology, Materials Chemistry | 1985 |
| Praxis für HumangenetikPraxis für Humangenetik | Bremen, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience | 2000 |
| Senckenberg am MeerSenckenberg - Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | Research institute Environment and climate | Oceanography, Ecology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics | 1928 |
| Technology Transfer Center BremerhavenTechnology Transfer Center Bremerhaven | Bremerhaven, Germany | Research institute Agriculture and food | Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Food Science, Insect Science | 1987 |
Countries
Organisations
- EMBL
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
- Helmholtz Association
- Leibniz Association
- Max Planck Society
- Senckenberg - Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research
Other leading ecosystems
- Paris and Saclay
- Beijing and Tianjin
- Washington DC and Maryland
- Greater Tokyo and Tsukuba
- Moscow
- Grenoble
- London and the Golden Triangle
- Greater Bay Area (Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hong Kong)
- Shanghai and Suzhou
- Provence (ITER and Cadarache)
- Silicon Valley and the Bay Area
- Singapore
- Zurich, Basel and Aargau
- Randstad (Amsterdam, Delft, Leiden)
- Stuttgart and Karlsruhe
Questions and answers
How big is the Hamburg R&D ecosystem?
It has 56 labs from 33 organisations, ranking number 37 worldwide in the 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory.
Which organisations have labs in Hamburg?
They include Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Leibniz Association, Max Planck Society and Helmholtz Association.
What does the Hamburg ecosystem specialise in?
Its main focus areas are oceanography, atmospheric science, genetics and ecology.
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