Combining strengths in six research and competence fields
PIER research and competence fields
PIER focuses on four research fields that are of particular importance for both DESY and University of Hamburg on Bahrenfeld campus: photon science, nanoscience, particle and astroparticle physics and infection and structural biology. They are interlinked by the three interdisciplinary PIER competence fields of theoretical physics, accelerator research, and artefact profiling. The close interplay of these fields and the mutual impulses for new and innovative research ideas arising from it are characteristic to Bahrenfeld campus and render it a unique destination for research. PIER helps to bring these new ideas to life by providing seed funding for joint DESY-UHH research projects.
Research fields
Particle & Astroparticle Physics
Thanks to the close collaboration between the University of Hamburg and DESY in the field of particle and astroparticle physics, Hamburg is recognised internationally as one of the most powerful and highly regarded German sites for high-energy physics.
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Infection and Structural Biology
Research in infection and structural biology in Bahrenfeld converges in the Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB). It combines the expertise of the excellent Hamburg research capacities in the life sciences with the world-class research infrastructure in Bahrenfeld.
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Photon science
The research location Hamburg boasts a globally unique constellation of complementary expertise in the closely interrelated fields: laser physics, quantum optics, short-time physics, X-ray physics and atomic, molecular physics. All of these fields are heavily involved in photon research.
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Nanoscience
The research into nanomaterials in Hamburg focuses on both the synthesis and the non-destructive analysis and study of new kinds of functional materials and their molecular processes under conditions of environmental, technological and industrial relevance.
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Competence fields
The four PIER research fields are closely interlinked by three transversal competence fields: theoretical physics, accelerator research, and artefact profiling.
In theoretical physics and accelerator research, DESY and University of Hamburg have a long-standing tradition of excellent research and are able to attract the world’s most brilliant scientists in these areas. Artefact profling was added to the portfolio in 2025 because of the increasing number of joint reseach activities in this field.
Theoretical physics
The Wolfgang Pauli Centre (WPC) unites the various theoretical physics research groups that are working on particle and astroparticle physics, cosmology, mathematical physics, condensed matter, quantum optics and chemical physics at Universität Hamburg and DESY.
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Accelerator research
The DESY research centre is one of the world’s leading institutes when it comes to building and operating large particle accelerators. DESY and Universität Hamburg have been closely collaborating on accelerator research for decades.
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Artefact Profiling
Artefact profiling was added as a "PIER Competence Field" to the PIER portfolio in 2025 as a response to the increasing number of joint activities of UHH and DESY researchers in the field of material research on written artefacts.
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Fund your research idea
Within the scope of their strategic Partnership for Innovation, Education and Research (PIER), University of Hamburg and DESY promote cooperation across the two institutions and between the PIER research and competence fields. For this purpose, University of Hamburg and DESY have established the PIER Idea Fund as a seed money funding scheme. Three formats are available: PIER Seed Projects, PIER Workshops, and PIER Short Visits.
