The Munich and Bavaria R&D ecosystem
Munich and Bavaria is ranked number 23 of 392 R&D ecosystems in the 311 Institute directory, with 75 labs within about 120 kilometres: 39 research institutes, 16 government, 11 corporate, 7 university, 1 military and 1 intergovernmental. Leading organisations include Max Planck Society, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, LMU Klinikum and BMW, focused on genetics, molecular biology, nuclear and high energy physics and biomedical engineering.
Part of the 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory. Compiled by Matthew Griffin. Last updated .
#23world rank
75labs
43organisations
2countries
Why these labs matter
European Southern Observatory: Will run the largest optical telescope on Earth.
Siemens Technology: Leads industrial AI and digital twins.
All 75 labs
| Lab and organisation | Location | Type and sector | Focus | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allianz XAllianz | Munich, Germany | Corporate Insurance | Insurtech, Venture building | 2016 |
| Apple Silicon Design CenterApple | Munich, Germany | Corporate Technology | Chips, Wireless | |
| BMW Group FIZ FutureBMW | Munich, Germany | Corporate Automotive and mobility | Vehicles | |
| BMW Research and Innovation CenterBMW | Munich, Germany | Corporate Automotive and mobility | Electrification, Autonomy | |
| BMW Startup GarageBMW | Munich, Germany | Corporate Automotive and mobility | Start-up partnerships | 2015 |
| Huawei European Research CenterHuawei | Munich, Germany | Corporate Telecommunications | Networks, AI | |
| Infineon TechnologiesInfineon | Munich, Germany | Corporate Technology | Power semiconductors | 1999 |
| Munich Leukemia Laboratory (Germany)Munich Leukemia Laboratory (Germany) | Munich, Germany | Corporate Healthcare and life sciences | Hematology, Molecular Biology, Cancer Research | 2005 |
| Munich Re Digital PartnersMunich Re | Munich, Germany | Corporate Insurance | Insurtech partnerships | 2016 |
| DoCoMo Communications Laboratories Europe GmbHNTT (Germany) | Munich, Germany | Corporate Industrials and manufacturing | Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Computer Networks and Communications | 2000 |
| Siemens TechnologySiemens | Munich, Germany | Corporate Industrials and manufacturing | AI, Automation, Energy transition | |
| Bavarian Research FoundationBavarian Research Foundation | Munich, Germany | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging, Economics and Econometrics, Ophthalmology | 1990 |
| Bavarian State Ministry for Science and ArtBavarian State Ministry for Science and Art | Munich, Germany | Government Technology | Information Systems, Education, Political Science and International Relations | 1998 |
| Bavarian State Research Center for AgricultureBayerisches Staatsministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten | Freising, Germany | Government Agriculture and food | Genetics, Plant Science, Soil Science | 2003 |
| George C. Marshall European Center for Security StudiesFederal Ministry of Defence | Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany | Government Social sciences and humanities | Political Science and International Relations, Sociology and Political Science, Economics and Econometrics | 1993 |
| Institut des Bundes für Qualitätssicherung im österreichischen SchulwesenFederal Ministry of Education, Science and Research | Salzburg, Austria | Government Social sciences and humanities | Education, Sociology and Political Science, Political Science and International Relations | |
| Fraunhofer AISEC (Applied and Integrated Security)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Garching, Germany | Government Technology | Cybersecurity | |
| Fraunhofer EMFT (Electronic Microsystems and Solid State Technologies)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Munich, Germany | Government Technology | Microsystems | |
| Fraunhofer IGCV (Casting, Composite and Processing Technology)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Augsburg, Germany | Government Industrials and manufacturing | Composites | |
| Fraunhofer IKS (Cognitive Systems)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Munich, Germany | Government Technology | Safe AI, Autonomy | |
| Fraunhofer IVV (Process Engineering and Packaging)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Freising, Germany | Government Agriculture and food | Food, Packaging | |
| Helmholtz MunichHelmholtz Association | Neuherberg, Germany | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Environmental health | 1964 |
| Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie der BundeswehrInstitut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie der Bundeswehr | Munich, Germany | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Plant Science, Pharmacology, Emergency Medicine | |
| Institut für Radiobiologie der BundeswehrInstitut für Radiobiologie der Bundeswehr | Munich, Germany | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, Molecular Biology | |
| Max Planck Institute for Plasma PhysicsMax Planck Society | Garching, Germany | Government Energy and resources | Fusion | 1960 |
| Max Planck Institute of Quantum OpticsMax Planck Society | Garching, Germany | Government Basic science | Quantum | 1981 |
| Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience MunichNational Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience | Munich, Germany | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Cognitive Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Neurology | 2005 |
| Bundeswehr University Munich research institutesGermany Bundeswehr | Neubiberg, Germany | Military Aerospace, defence and space | Cyber, Aerospace | 1973 |
| LKR Leichtmetallkompetenzzentrum Ranshofen GmbHAIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH | Ranshofen, Austria | University Industrials and manufacturing | Aerospace Engineering, Biomaterials, Mechanical Engineering | 2000 |
| Excellence Cluster OriginsLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München | Garching, Germany | University Space | Astronomy and Astrophysics, Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Instrumentation | 2019 |
| Nanosystems Initiative MunichLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München | Munich, Germany | University Chemicals and materials | Biomedical Engineering, Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Materials Chemistry | 2006 |
| Rachel Carson Center for Environment and SocietyLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München | Munich, Germany | University Social sciences and humanities | Literature and Literary Theory, Nature and Landscape Conservation, General Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 2009 |
| Institute of Biological and Medical ImagingTechnical University of Munich | Munich, Germany | University Industrials and manufacturing | Biomedical Engineering, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging, Biophysics | |
| Munich Cluster for Systems NeurologyTechnical University of Munich | Munich, Germany | University Healthcare and life sciences | Physiology, Psychiatry and Mental health, Neurology | |
| Technical University of MunichUniversities in Germany | Munich, Germany | University Multidisciplinary research | Engineering, AI | 1868 |
| European Southern ObservatoryESO | Garching, Germany | Intergovernmental Basic science | Astronomy, Telescopes | 1962 |
| Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain ResearchAustrian Academy of Sciences | Innsbruck, Austria | Research institute Environment and climate | Atmospheric Science, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law, Nature and Landscape Conservation | 2012 |
| German Center for Diabetes ResearchDeutsche Zentren der Gesundheitsforschung | Munich, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Epidemiology, Genetics | 2009 |
| Deutsches JugendinstitutDeutsches Jugendinstitut | Munich, Germany | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Demography, Sociology and Political Science, Safety Research | 1963 |
| Doerner InstitutDoerner Institut | Munich, Germany | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Archeology, Conservation, Earth-Surface Processes | 1937 |
| Fraunhofer Institute for Applied and Integrated SecurityFraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Garching, Germany | Research institute Technology | Artificial Intelligence, Hardware and Architecture, Information Systems | 2009 |
| Fraunhofer Institute for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology IGCVFraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Augsburg, Germany | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering | 2016 |
| Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and PackagingFraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Freising, Germany | Research institute Agriculture and food | Food Science, Biomaterials, Biomedical Engineering | 1941 |
| Fraunhofer Research Institution for Microsystems and Solid State TechnologiesFraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Munich, Germany | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Biomedical Engineering | 1974 |
| Heinz Maier-Leibnitz ZentrumHeinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum | Garching, Germany | Research institute Basic science | Radiation, Condensed Matter Physics, Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials | |
| Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems BiologyHelmholtz Munich | Oberschleißheim, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Molecular Biology, Genetics, Plant Science | |
| Institute of Diabetes ResearchHelmholtz Munich | Munich, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Surgery | |
| Huawei German Research CenterHuawei Technologies (Germany) | Munich, Germany | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Computer Networks and Communications, Control and Systems Engineering | |
| IFT Institut für TherapieforschungIFT Institut für Therapieforschung | Munich, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Epidemiology, Physiology, Pathology and Forensic Medicine | 1973 |
| Institute of Medical Microbiology and HygieneInstitute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene | Regensburg, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Infectious Diseases, Virology, Oncology | |
| Leibniz Institute for ImmunotherapyLeibniz Association | Regensburg, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Immunology, Oncology, Hematology | 2022 |
| Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of MunichLeibniz Association | Freising, Germany | Research institute Agriculture and food | Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, Plant Science | 1918 |
| Deutsches Schwindel- und GleichgewichtszentrumLMU Klinikum | Munich, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Neurology, Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation, Surgery | 2009 |
| Institut für AllgemeinmedizinLMU Klinikum | Munich, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | General Health Professions, Social Psychology, Geriatrics and Gerontology | |
| Institut für Chirurgische ForschungLMU Klinikum | Munich, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Surgery, Immunology and Allergy, Neurology | |
| Institut für Didaktik und Ausbildungsforschung in der MedizinLMU Klinikum | Munich, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Family Practice, General Health Professions | 2011 |
| Institut für HumangenetikLMU Klinikum | Munich, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Clinical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology | |
| Institut für Infektions- und TropenmedizinLMU Klinikum | Munich, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Infectious Diseases, Surgery, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health | |
| Institut für Klinische NeuroimmunologieLMU Klinikum | Munich, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Neurology, Immunology | 1999 |
| Institut für Muskuloskelettale MedizinLMU Klinikum | Munich, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Molecular Biology, Rheumatology, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging | |
| Institut für Psychiatrische Phänomik und GenomikLMU Klinikum | Munich, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Psychiatry and Mental health, Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience | |
| Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Digital Health and PreventionLudwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft | Salzburg, Austria | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | General Health Professions, Health Information Management, Physiology | 2019 |
| Halbleiterlabor of the Max-Planck-SocietyMax Planck Society | Munich, Germany | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Radiation | |
| Max Planck Institute for AstrophysicsMax Planck Society | Garching, Germany | Research institute Space | Astronomy and Astrophysics, Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Instrumentation | 1958 |
| Max Planck Institute for Biological IntelligenceMax Planck Society | Martinsried, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Ecology, Developmental Biology | 2022 |
| Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial PhysicsMax Planck Society | Garching, Germany | Research institute Space | Astronomy and Astrophysics, Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Instrumentation | 1963 |
| Max Planck Institute for Innovation and CompetitionMax Planck Society | Munich, Germany | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Law, Political Science and International Relations, Management of Technology and Innovation | 1966 |
| Max Planck Institute for PhysicsMax Planck Society | Munich, Germany | Research institute Nuclear | Nuclear and High Energy Physics | 1917 |
| Max Planck Institute for Tax Law and Public FinanceMax Planck Society | Munich, Germany | Research institute Public policy and analysis | Accounting, Economics and Econometrics, Safety Research | 2011 |
| Max Planck Institute of PsychiatryMax Planck Society | Munich, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Behavioral Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Genetics | 1917 |
| Labor für Immunologische und Molekulare KrebsforschungSalzburger Landeskliniken | Salzburg, Austria | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Cancer Research | 2005 |
| Space Telescope European Coordinating FacilitySpace Telescope European Coordinating Facility | Garching, Germany | Research institute Space | Astronomy and Astrophysics, Instrumentation, Nuclear and High Energy Physics | 1984 |
| Sylvia Lawry Centre for Multiple Sclerosis ResearchSylvia Lawry Centre for Multiple Sclerosis Research | Munich, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation, Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition | 2001 |
| Technologie- und Förderzentrum im Kompetenzzentrum für Nachwachsende RohstoffeTechnologie- und Förderzentrum im Kompetenzzentrum für Nachwachsende Rohstoffe | Straubing, Germany | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Biomedical Engineering, Mechanics of Materials, Forestry | 2002 |
| Tyrolean Cancer Research InstituteTyrolean Cancer Research Institute | Innsbruck, Austria | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Oncology, Molecular Biology, Genetics |
Countries
Organisations
- Apple
- Austrian Academy of Sciences
- BMW
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
- Helmholtz Association
- Huawei
- Leibniz Association
- LMU Klinikum
- Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft
- Max Planck Society
- National Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience
- Siemens
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 Munich and Bavaria R&D ecosystem?
It has 75 labs from 43 organisations, ranking number 23 worldwide in the 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory.
Which organisations have labs in Munich and Bavaria?
They include Max Planck Society, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, LMU Klinikum and BMW.
What does the Munich and Bavaria ecosystem specialise in?
Its main focus areas are genetics, molecular biology, nuclear and high energy physics and biomedical engineering.
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