With around 1200 employees (990 at the Leipzig site), the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research GmbH – UFZ researches the causes and consequences of environmental changes in the terrestrial regions of the earth. With its knowledge, the UFZ supports the United Nations, the EU, the federal government, federal states and local authorities in climate change adaptation strategies, the sustainable management of water resources and the implementation of European directives in the areas of water, biodiversity and chemicals. Its expertise is in demand in the World Biodiversity Council as well as in the World Climate and Bioeconomy Councils.

The German Biomass Research Center (DBFZ) is concerned with the question of how the limited biomass resources available can be used sustainably and efficiently. The diverse research questions are dealt with in the departments of ‘Bioenergy Systems’, ‘Biochemical Conversion’, ‘Thermochemical Conversion’ and ‘Biorefineries’ as well as five key research focus areas. In addition, the DBFZ is working on the ‘Smart Bioenergy’ approach, which, among other things, provides for the optimal joint utilisation of renewable energies and takes social and climate policy developments into account. The DBFZ was founded in 2008 as a non-profit limited company on the Science Park and currently has around 270 employees.

The Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research e.V. (TROPOS) began its work in 1992. At that time, the focus was on atmospheric environmental research, as the greater Halle/Leipzig area was struggling with severe air pollution. As air pollution decreased, the research topics shifted: Today, TROPOS and its 150 employees research processes in the troposphere, especially aerosols and their interactions with clouds. A special feature of the institute is the LACIS (Leipzig Aerosol and Cloud Interaction Simulator) cloud laboratory, opened in 2006, in which artificial clouds can be generated.

The Leibniz Institute for Surface Modification e.V. (IOM) began its research work on the interaction between radiation and matter in 1992. The institute’s core competencies are the modification and development of functional and adaptive surfaces and thin films as well as their characterization. The IOM uses the research results obtained to develop technologies that can be used in industry. With 150 employees, the IOM maintains numerous collaborations with research institutions and industrial partners and can already look back on a handful of spin-offs. One of these spin-offs is Innovative Oberflächentechnologien GmbH (IOT) with the business areas of UV technology, plasma and ion beam technology and silanization.

IOT – Innovative Oberflächentechnologien GmbH processes surfaces with ion beam and plasma, cures paints and coatings with UV light and develops special coating additives. Founded in 1998, the company is a world leader in the field of UV systems (PAC, EXCIRAD172 and DIRECTCURE). These systems are used to color and protect paper, decorative films, plastics and release films. The 50-strong team includes physicists, chemists, designers and engineers.

Today’s Leipzig Research Unit of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf Leipzig (HZDR) was founded in 1998 as the Leipzig Institute for Interdisciplinary Isotope Research. The central technology of the research facility is positron emission tomography (PET), which the researchers use in a variety of areas such as the investigation of transport processes in rock formations or metabolic processes in organisms. The former helps, for example, in the search for a suitable repository for nuclear waste and the latter in brain research. A total of 1,100 people are employed at the HZDR, including 35 at the Leipzig research center on the Science Park.

The Institute for Non-Classical Chemistry (INC) began operations in 1997. Initially, research focused on high-pressure separation processes, ultrasound-initiated material conversion and microwave-assisted recovery of valuable materials. The term “non-classical” refers to the use of non-classical reaction conditions such as ultrasonic technology, high pressure and temperatures up to 1200 °C. Over time, the research areas have changed in line with demand and now also include process engineering in areas such as biogas and biodiesel, exhaust air, waste gas and wastewater treatment. The INC currently employs 17 people.

Technoserv-Center Oliver Modes e.K. (TCM) is responsible for electrics, heating, plumbing and building services for the buildings on the Science Park as well as for access control at the main entrance. Around 25 people work at TCM, including tradeswomen, security guards and administrative staff.