PIER at the Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld

PIER was established in 2011 as a strategic partnership between Universität Hamburg and Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY with the aim of intensifying the two institutions’ long-standing, successful collaboration in research and expanding it  to include additional areas. PIER focuses on four research fields that are of particular importance for both DESY and Universität Hamburg at the Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld science campus: particle and astroparticle physics, nanoscience, photon science and infection and structural biology. Additional interdisciplinary competence areas are theoretical physics and accelerator research. At PIER, DESY and Universität Hamburg jointly provide funding for cross-institutional research projects, promote high-quality education of junior scientists, and foster an innovation-friendly culture on campus.

All PIER activities revolve around the science campus in Hamburg Bahrenfeld with its world-class research facilities. Among them are DESY’s extremely brilliant X-ray synchrotron radiation source PETRA III (which, in the very near future, will be complemented by the ultimate 3D X-ray microscope for nanoresearch, PETRA IV), the free-electron laser FLASH and the world’s most powerful X-ray free-electron laser European XFEL. The campus will be the nucleus of Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld – one of Hamburg’s most ambitious urban planning projects. The aim is to combine top-level international research, university education and innovative companies with vibrant residential quarters and thereby develop Hamburg into a world-class hub for science. Several PIER PLUS partners are located on this campus or operate individual sites, including the University of Hamburg with several institute and research buildings, the Centre for X-ray and Nano Science (with contributions from DESY, Hereon and TUHH) or the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD).

For more information on the collaboration and activities taking place as part of PIER, especially in the areas of research, innovation, and supporting young academics, please visit the profile’s own homepage:

https://www.pier-hamburg.de