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Niedersachsen's research environment

This is where eminent research and innovative high-tech developments are founded in a long tradition: discoveries such as binary code, the world's first telegraph connection or the first sound recording medium can be traced to bright minds from Niedersachsen. More and more well trained, highly specialised professionals are staying here after their studies - they appreciate Niedersachsen's high standard of living and quality of life.

Examples of the strengths of Niedersachsen as a research location:

Impressive scientific achievements in refining new vaccines
Nobel Prize for Chemistry, for revolutionary advances in light microscopy by the Göttingen scientist Stefan Hell
Numerous biotech enterprises around Hannover Medical School
Interdisciplinary centre for molecular bioscience in Göttingen brings together the diverse competences of the university, the clinic, the Max-Planck-Institute and the German Primate Centre.
Innovative wind power research at the Research Alliance for Wind Energy and the and the Automotive Research Centre Niedersachsen.
Hannover Production Technology Centre (PZH), one of the most important research centres in its field - nationally and internationally.

Research foci

Energy and resources efficiency

Niedersachsen has set itself the target of 100% energy supply from renewables to complete the transition from nuclear power and end dependency on fossil fuels. Research and innovation are the prime preconditions for environmentally friendly, economically viable and secure energy provision. At the heart of this process are renewable energy sources, developing new storage technologies and the future supply grid structure. Niedersachsen leads this process, especially in wind power research.
Production technology

What will the industrial manufacturing process of the future look like? This question engages the talents of production technology researchers. To ensure the competitiveness of Germany’s economy and produce more sustainably, production processes are constantly improved – technologically and organisationally. Intelligent networking of machines with each other and the piece to be manufactured makes production more efficient. In what amounts to a fourth industrial revolution, digitalisation is penetrating ever-deeper into industrial manufacturing.
Mobility and aerospace

The future of mobility is of crucial importance to society’s prosperity. Niedersachsen makes its strong contribution to progress – as a land of mobility enterprises, with research and development activity at its scientific facilities and major enterprises in the automotive and aerospace sectors, and with numerous highly innovative supplier SMEs – all working towards a mobile, but also environmentally friendly and resource saving future.
Health and life sciences

Health research in Niedersachsen focuses on translation research, genome analysis, infection research, cognitive and neurosciences, molecular biosciences, biomedical technology, implant research, and hearing technology. Niedersachsen’s research facilities are important partners of the German Health Research Centres.
Climate and marine science

Global climate change presents our society with enormous challenges. Central factors in climate events arise in the world’s oceans, which also offer hope as sources of raw materials and energy, and whose species diversity and ecosystems are still under-researched. For such reasons, climate and marine research is an important concern of the State Government.
Agricultural science

Several urgent social challenges impinge on the agricultural sciences. Climate change affects soil, water and farming practice. Biomass is increasingly replacing fossil fuels. Other issues are food security and consumer expectations of higher quality food, along with animal protection, biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture.
Humanities and social sciences

Recognising the significance of knowledge-led fundamental research, and bringing academia closer to socially relevant issues – this is where the humanities and social sciences play a crucial role. Society’s burning questions are addressed in multifarious ways; their concerns are predominantly culturally determined, and so they benefit particularly from cross-disciplinary perceptions that arrive at conclusions through comparative approaches. Such conclusions enable developments in one’s own culture and society.

Think Tanks in Niedersachsen

Seek and find interesting research locations, pursuing excellence in research, development and training.

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Four Fraunhofer Institutes, four Helmholtz Association facilities, seven Leibniz Association facilities
Over 12,500 foreign students in STEM subjects
Georg August University, Göttingen, founded in 1737, with 30,500 students, Niedersachsen's largest university
Leibniz University, Hannover, founded 1831, Niedersachsen's second-largest university with 29,900 students
29 universities and other higher education facilities

Partners and further information sources

Forschungsprofile Niedersachsen

The 'Niedersachsen Research Profile' platform offers structured initial information on research and development at the State's universities and extra-university facilities.
Niedersachsen skilled workers initiative

State Government initiative to secure the availability of skilled specialist professionals and thus enhance the innovation capacity, performance, and competitiveness of the Niedersachsen economy.
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