Creating Synergies
In their strategic partnership "PIER", DESY and the University of Hamburg combine their strengths in innovation, education and research.
Learn morePartnership for Innovation, Education and Research
PIER is the strategic partnership of DESY and the University of Hamburg ("Partnership for Innovation, Education and Research"). PIER focuses on the research fields particle and astroparticle physics, nanosciences, photon science and infection and structural biology. Additional interdisciplinary areas are theoretical physics and accelerator research. In 2023, artefact profiling was added to the portfolio as a PIER Emerging Topic. Under the umbrella of PIER, DESY and the University of Hamburg jointly provide funding for cross-institutional research projects, promote high-quality education of junior scientists, and foster an innovation-friendly culture on the science campus Bahrenfeld.
The unique research environment of the science campus Bahrenfeld is where all PIER activities unfold. The campus hosts around 3,000 guest researchers from more than 40 countries every year who are attracted by the world-class research facilities available in Bahrenfeld.
PIER News
show all newsAlumni talk with Dr. Abtin Narimani, Lufthansa
EVENT | 25 June 2025, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Harbor Seminar Room
Take the Stage: Pitch & Connect
EVENT | 9 July 2025, 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. | SR IV + V, CFEL
Discover how PIER can boost your scientific career
EVENTS
show all events27 Jun 2025
PIER Startup Workshop: Founding a Startup in Germany as a non-EU Citizen
Andreas Voss (Concis Group! and People & Friends) | 27 June 2025, 9 am - 1 pm | Remote
Find out what you need to establish your own company in Germany in our next PIER Startup Workshop “Founding a Startup in Germany as a non-EU Citizen” for early stage researche ...
01 Jul 2025
PIER Doctoral Seminar | July 2025
Michael Büker | Three modules between 1 and 9 July 2025 | Campus Bahrenfeld, HARBOR (bldg. 610), seminar room ground floor
The seminar is open to all full and associated members of the PIER Helmholtz Graduate School (PHGS) from the 2nd year of the doctorate. All full members of PHGS must attend th ...
01 Jul 2025
Thesis defense: Edgar Cristopher Cortes Garcia
Thesis defense: Edgar Cristopher Cortes Garcia | 1 July 2025, 10.00 a.m. |
The disputation is open to the UHH university public. Title of thesis: Selected applications of resonant phenomena in fourth-generation light sources
03 Jul 2025
Thesis defense: Lorenzo Mansi
Thesis defense: Lorenzo Mansi | 2 July 2025, 12.30 p.m. |
The disputation is open to the UHH university public. Title of thesis: The Higgs Branch of Six Dimensional Supersymmetric Theories: Magnetic Quivers, Geometry, and Hasse Diag ...
Meet PIER
Take a quick roundtrip and discover the PIER activities and program offers.

»I am so happy to be on the Science Campus Bahrenfeld, because here I can work at incredible institutions, do interesting research, and learn a new language at the same time.«
Blae Stacey | Doctoral Researcher PHGS since 2022 | Learn more
