Research Infrastructure Facilities
Research infrastructure facilities include laboratories, large-scale scientific equipment, archives, databases and collections, information and communication technology facilities, and even social networks and actor-oriented structures; this also includes work in committees and advisory boards. Many devices and facilities are very personnel- and cost-intensive to acquire, operate, and maintain. Collaborative approaches make the infrastructure needed for cutting-edge research accessible to many scientists.
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Laboratories, large-scale equipment & campus solutions
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Archives, databases and data collections
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Social infrastructures and competence centers
Systematic, sustainable access to digitized data is also indispensable for new scientific findings and innovations in research. The German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) is intended to systematically make available to the entire German science system scientific and research databases that have so far been stored in a decentralized, project-based and temporary manner. The federal and state governments will jointly provide funds for this between 2019 and 2028. The members of BORA have been active within this framework.
In Bonn's scientific landscape, there is a strong overall foundation of research infrastructure in diverse subject and thematic areas. Many of these have been created in cooperation or are accessible to external parties. On this page, these infrastructures are listed by type and sorted by overarching topic.
Laboratories, large-scale equipment and campus solutions
There is a strong physical research infrastructure particularly in the following five thematic areas: (1) Astronomy and Physics, (2) Heritage, Memory and Reconciliation, (3) Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, (4) Sustainable Future, (5) Economics, (6) Digitalization, AI and Computing.
- Research and Technology Center for Detector Physics (University of Bonn)
The Research and Technology Center for Detector Physics (FTD) provides its users with highly technical infrastructure and measurement laboratories for the development of modern detectors for experimental particle physics and beyond on an area of about 3000 square meters. - Cyclotron / Isotope Separator (University of Bonn, HISKP)
The accelerator facilities of the HISKP comprise the isochronous cyclotron and the isotope separator. At the isotope separator, impure radioactive isotopes are ionised and accelerated, then separated in the separator magnet with regard to their different charge and mass, and a purified isotope beam is implanted into a target. - QBiG Cluster (University of Bonn)
The QBiG GPU cluster is funded by the DFG in the framework of the CRC 110. It consists of two parts. The most recent one QBiG-II consists of 5 nodes with 8 NVIDIA P100 cards each. It has a peak performance of about 180 TFlops in double and about 373 TFlops in single precision. QBiG-I has a peak performance of 56 TFlops in double and 168 TFlops in single precision on 48 K20m GPUs. - Fiber Lab (University of Bonn)
In quantum optics and quantum electro dynamics one is interested in the study of strong interactions between light and matter. To do so one has to build an interface, between the light field and the piece of matter, that enhances the interaction probability. - CCAT-prime (University of Bonn)
The Cerro Chajnantor Atacama Telescope CCAT-p (pronounced "see-cat-prime") is a 6-m aperture submillimeter (submm) to millimeter (mm) wave telescope under construction at an altitude of 5600 m near the summit of Cerro Chajnantor in northern Chile, Atacama Desert. Using CCAT-p, scientists hope to gain unique insights into the birth of stars and galaxies. They are trying to unravel the mystery of how the cosmos was formed and how so-called dark matter and dark energy have influenced the expansion of the universe. - Electron accelerator ELSA (University of Bonn)
The electron accelerator ELSA is operated by the university of Bonn in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. It consists of three stages (injector LINACs, booster synchrotron and stretcher ring) and delivers a beam of polarized or unpolarized electrons with variable energy of max. 3.5 GeV. The main research topic is hadron physics. For this purpose a beam of up to several nA can be extratced and transfered to the different experimental areas. - Radio Telescope Effelsberg (MPIfR)
With a diameter of 100 meters, the Radio Telescope Effelsberg is one of the largest fully steerable radio telescopes on earth. Its inauguration took place on May 12, 1971. Since the full start of operations in 1972, the technology has been continually improved (i.e. new surface for the antenna-dish, better reception of high-quality data, extremely low noise electronics) making it one of the most advanced modern telescopes worldwide.
External use possible. - SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy and GREAT, the German Receiver for Astronomy at Terahertz Frequencies (MPIfR)
SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, is a joint project of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR; German Aerospace Centre). GREAT, the German Receiver for Astronomy at Terahertz Frequencies, is a receiver for spectroscopic observations in the far infrared spectral regime at frequencies between 0,5 and 5 terahertz (wavelengths of 60 to 600 microns), which are not accessible from the ground due to absorption by water vapor in the atmosphere. It is developed and maintained by the Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR).
- Laboratories of archaeology, geology and paleontology (University of Bonn)
- Bonn Technology Campus (BTC)(University of Bonn)
External use is provided for in the regulations for use [German]. - LIMES Technical Platforms (University of Bonn)
Superresolution light microscopy facility, Genetic engineering facility, Mass spectrometry, Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, Life Cell Imaging, PRECISE Platform foR SinglE Cell GenomIcS and Epigenomics, Aptamer development platform at CARD - Electron Microscopy Analysis (MPINB)
The electron microscopy facility at caesar provides resources, technology and expertise for studying the ultrastructure of cryo-immobilized and chemically fixed biological samples as well as the analysis of material science samples. We provide electron microscopy analysis as a service. - Core facility for genetic engineering (MPINB)
Our facility is dedicated to provide research groups within the institute with state of the art molecular biology services to facilitate their specific research projects, e.g. DNA/RNA isolation/preparation/ analysis & detection, custom cloning, genotyping, protein detection, protein expression and labelling, design, production and characterization of stable cell lines, viruses and more. - Mechanical Production (MPINB)
The institute has a precision mechanical and electronic workshop. We offer the production of mechanical components up to a footprint of 400 x 300 mm², in small to medium series size (up to 100 components). - Brain Bank (DZNE, in cooperation with university partners)
The DZNE, in cooperation with university partners, is establishing the DZNE Brain Bank, in which biomaterial from the brain, spinal cord and other organs of deceased donors are examined, collected, stored and made available for research projects. - Clinical Research Platform – CRP (DZNE in cooperation with the University of Bonn)
Within the clinical research of the DZNE, the CRP provides an organizational framework for the planning, execution and evaluation of clinical trials as well as the collection of all data and biobanking under standardized conditions. The CRP comprises the areas of project management, data management, trial design and statistics, central contact management, clinical research biorepository, quality assurance and quality management. - Image and Data Analysis Facility (IDAF) (DZNE)
The Image and Data Analysis Facility (IDAF) provides service and support for all issues related to image analysis, data processing and statistics.
External use is provided for in the general terms of use. - Laboratory Automation Technologies (LAT) (DZNE)
The LAT has established a state-of-the-art automated screening platform consisting of more than thirty different instruments under cleanroom (ISO-5) containment level. The platform can be used for fully automated multi parametric image-based assay and all types of common biochemical and homogenous cellular assay approaches.
External use is provided for in the general terms of use. - Light Microscope Facility (LMF) (DZNE)
The Light Microscope Facility (LMF) runs and maintains up to date equipment based on light microscopes. The LMF operates on a cost recovery basis were systems as well as technical support can be booked.
External use is provided for in the general terms of use. - SAMRI - Small Animal MRI Facility (DZNE)
Small animal MRI Facility - SAMRI is the platform for non-invasive in vivo imaging of rodents and data processing. SAMRI facility provides sequences for anatomical, functional and metabolic imaging (MRI/MRS) and fluorescent and bioluminescent imaging technologies for applications in basic and applied neurosciences, preclinical and drug discovery studies.
External use is provided for in the general terms of use.
- Laboratories (chemistry, soil physics), measuring stations (climate) and experimental farm (agricultural teaching and research station) (University of Bonn)
The Department of Geography has various laboratories and testing facilities that are used for research and teaching. The laboratories are located in the department’s basement, while other testing facilities such as the laboratory flume, a weather station and a hydrological measuring weir are based at the Frankenforst research site. - Center for Earth System Observation and Computational Analysis (CESOC) (University of Bonn in cooperation with University of Cologne & FZ Jülich)
- Laboratory for Clouds and Precipitation Exploration, ABC/J-Kompetenzzentrum, Geoverbund ABC/J (in cooperation with the University of Bonn)
The CPEX-LAB brings together cloud and precipitation-related expertise from the fields of meteorology, remote sensing, applied mathematics, engineering and computer science. The focus is on scientific and technical challenges in observing and understanding clouds and precipitation. - Water Competence Center, ABC/J-Kompetenzzentrum, Geoverbund ABC/J (in cooperation with the University of Bonn)
The "Water" Competence Center (HyCoGeo) is intended to bundle the expertise of the Geoverbund into knowledge and insights into the dynamics of the hydrosphere, which will change significantly in the coming years. - Morphology Laboratory (Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Research Museum Koenig)
Morphology is the science of the form and structure of an organism and includes both the exterior appearence and the inner anatomy. It takes a central role in biological and evolutionary research. The morphology lab of the ZFMK was established in 2018. Next to own research is also corrdinates the morphological research, supervises the related infrastructure and provides training and counseling for other ZFMK researchers. - Animal Husbandry(Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Research Museum Koenig)
Observations in captivity complement collection- and field-based research. The aquarium facilities of the ichthyology section at ZFMK allow the documentation of life coloration, courtship behaviour, investigation of development from the egg to the adult fish, or the investigation of the heritability of external traits.
- Bonn Econ Lab (DecisionLab) (University of Bonn & MPI Collective Goods)
The BonnEconLab - Laboratory for Experimental Economic Research of the University of Bonn and the Decision Lab of the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Common Goods regularly conduct scientific behavioral experiments. Excellent command of the German language is required for participating in experiments at BonnEconLab. If you fulfill this requirement, you are invited to add your details to our subject database. - ECONtribute Data Lab (University of Bonn)
The Cluster bundles the datasets and expertise of ECONtribute in its own data lab. It consists of several data sources, including financial databases such as Eikon, WRDS, Compustat North America and Global, SNL Financial, and DealScan. - CLER (Cologne Laboratory for Economic Research) (University of Cologne, in collaboration with University of Bonn in the Cluster of Excellence EconTribute)
Since its opening in 2005, the Cologne Laboratory for Economic Research (CLER) has been one of the world's most active and largest laboratories. Interactive experiments can be conducted on the computer at almost 70 experimental stations. - MacroFinance and MacroHistory Lab (hosts the Jordà-Schularick-Taylor Macrohistory Database, University of Bonn)
The MacroFinance and MacroHistory Lab is based at the University of Bonn and affiliated with the ECONtribute Excellence Cluster. Aiming to lead the way in new research on central questions facing society, researchers at the Lab study the causes and consequences of financial instability and rising debt, the evolution of income and wealth inequality, as well as economic history and political economy.
- High Performance Computing (HPC), Großrechner Marvin (University of Bonn)
With the new supercomputer, one of the fastest mainframe computers (currently ranked 423rd among the TOP 500 worldwide) is moving into the University of Bonn. [Press Release]
Archives, databases and data collections
Collections and databases are particularly noteworthy in the following five thematic areas: (1) Astronomy and Physics, (2) Digitalization, AI and Computing, (3) Heritage, Memory and Reconciliation, (4) Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, (5) Sustainable Future.
- PUNCH4NFDI (MPIfR and University of Bonn)
PUNCH4NFDI is the NFDI consortium of particle, astro-, astroparticle, hadron and nuclear physics, representing about 9.000 scientists with a Ph.D. in Germany, from universities, the Max Planck society, the Leibniz Association, and the Helmholtz Association. PUNCH physics addresses the fundamental constituents of matter and their interactions, as well as their role for the development of the largest structures in the universe - stars and galaxies. | Broad-based services available.
- NFDI4DataScience – National Research Data Infrastructure for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (Fraunhofer Gesellschaft)
The overarching objective of NFDI4DS is the development, establishment, and sustainment of a national research data infrastructure for the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence community in Germany. This will also deliver benefits for a wider community requiring data analytics solutions, within the NFDI and beyond. The key idea is to work towards increasing the transparency, reproducibility and fairness of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence projects, by making all digital artifacts available, interlinking them, and offering innovative tools and services. Based on the reuse of these digital objects, this enables new and innovative research.
Services
- Archives & Collections (University of Bonn, Bonn University and State Library)
- Historical Collections: handwritten materials, musical scores, autographs, portraits, war letters, seals, deeds, coats of arms, papyri and ostraca, and more.
- Digital Collections: The Bonn University and State Library has an extensive and ever-growing collection of handwritten materials from the modern era: autographs, bequests, war letters, music autographs and manuscripts, and other materials. - BASA Museum (Bonner Amerikas-Sammlung) (University of Bonn)
The BASA Museum (Bonner Amerikas-Sammlung) is the archaeological-ethnographic teaching and study collection of the Department of Ancient American Studies at the University of Bonn. - NFDI4Memory - The Consortium for the Historically Oriented Humanities (University of Bonn)
4Memory represents not only the field of history as such but also other disciplines that make use of historical data as part of their methodologies, such as economics, social science, geography, and area studies. It aims to ensure the quality of historical research data, thereby safeguarding the critical role of the humanities in complex, rapidly changing societies. - NFDI4Objects - Research Data Infrastructure for the Material Remains of Human History (University of Bonn)
NFDI4Objects is an initiative to build a multidisciplinary consortium within the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI). The initiative is aimed at researchers and practitioners whose work focuses on the material heritage of around three million years of human and environmental history and is dedicated to the challenges of modern research data infrastructures. - NFDI4Culture - Consortium for Research Data on Material and Immaterial Cultural Heritage (University of Bonn)
NFDI4Culture establishes a needs-based infrastructure for research data ranging from architecture, art history and musicology to theatre, dance, film and media studies. - Text+ - Consortium for Language- and Text-based Data (University of Bonn)
The Text+ consortium will preserve text- and language-based research data in the long term and enable their broad use in science. - Scientific Collection of the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Research Museum Koenig)
The scientific collections form an important basis for research at the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB). The 15 million objects from the fields of zoology, geology-palaeontology and mineralogy have been collected over centuries in all parts of the world. - Biohistoricum (Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Research Museum Koenig)
The tasks of the Biohistoricum include systematizing, making available and exploring the various stocks such as partial estates, letters, illustrations and portraits, which have a reference to the history of biology in the German-speaking world. The own research library contains more than 50,000 volumes of books. The spectrum covers various life science disciplines (e.g. zoology, botany, evolutionary biology, medical history). - Collections of the Center for Historical Peace Research (Zentrum für Historsiche Friedensforschung) (Universtity of Bonn)
- Collections of the Bonn Middle Ages Center (Bonner Mittelalterzentrum / BMZ) (University of Bonn)
- Facts and Figures on war and peace — interactive online portal (bicc)
- Global Militarization Index (GMI) (bicc)
Scientific collections in museums I
- Egyptian Museum
- Academic Art Museum
- Arithmeum
- Goldfuß Museum of Paleontology
- Paul Clemen Museum (plaster casts)
- Bonn University Museum
Cooperation with museums:
- [Re:] Entanglements: Colonial Collections in Decolonial Times (Employees of the University of Bonn with museums in Great Britain)
- LVR LandesMuseum Bonn
- Stadtmuseum Bonn
- NFDI4Health – National Research Data Infrastructure for Personal Health Data (Fraunhofer SCAI & University of Bonn)
The overall goal of NFDI4Health is to best support the clinical and epidemiological research community in sharing their data with the user community in accordance with privacy regulations and ethical principles, and to create new opportunities for data analysis within the Nationalen Forschungsdateninfrastruktur (NFDI) in the interest of improving population health. - NFDI4Immuno - National Research Data Infrastructure for Immunology (University of Bonn)
We aim to build an open infrastructure for FAIR research data management (RDM) for and with the German immunological community. Our vision is a network of federated repositories for all data describing the state of the immune system together with tools and services that will facilitate integrated data analyses across these repositories.
Scientific collections in museums II
- Horst-Stoeckel Museum of the History of Anesthesiology
- Dental History Collection/ Gustav-Korkhaus Collection on the History of Dentistry
- NFDI4Earth – National Research Data Infrastructure for Earth System Sciences (University of Bonn)
NFDI4Earth addresses digital needs of Earth System Sciences. Earth System scientists cooperate in international and interdisciplinary networks with the overarching aim to understand the functioning and interactions within the Earth system and address the multiple challenges of global change. NFDI4Earth is a community-driven process providing researchers with FAIR, coherent, and open access to all relevant Earth System data, to innovative research data management and data science methods. (Tools & Services) - FAIRagro - FAIR Data Infrastructure for Agrosystems (University of Bonn)
FAIRagro is a community-driven initiative within the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) and focuses on the agrosystem domain needed to develop sustainable crop production and agroecosystems. - NFDI4Biodiversity (Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Research Museum Koenig)
NFDI4Biodiversity is a consortium under the umbrella of the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) dedicated to mobilising biodiversity and environmental data for collective use. - Scientific Collections at the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB)
The scientific collections form an important basis for research at the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB). The archive of living things, fossils and minerals provides our researchers with information about past and present times. The objects and data reflect the changes in species as well as their environment and allow predictions for further development. - Biodiversity Informatics (Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Research Museum Koenig)
In biodiversity informatics at the ZFMK we deal with everything that has to do with information about the occurrence, distribution and appearance of biological organisms.
Scientific collections in museums III
- Botanical Gardens
- Goldfuß Museum of Paleontology
- Mineralogical Museum
Social infrastructures and competence centers
Competence centers and networks are particularly prominent as digital and social infrastructure in the following four overarching thematic areas: (1) Digitalization, AI and Computing, (2) Ethics & Order, (3) Flight, Displacement & Migration, (4) Sustainable Future: Biodiversity & Climate; International Cooperation and Sustainable Development Policy, (5) Medicine, Health and Life Sciences.
- Fraunhofer Center for Digital Energy (with participation of FKIE)
Infrastructure for testing and verification of novel technologies, e.g. IT security tools, patches, network technologies. - High Performance Computer Cluster (Fraunhofer SCAI)
SCAI is a member and provider of cloud computing in the European Open Science Cloud through the participation of the German e-Infrastructure initiative NGI-DE in EGI-ACE and provides cloud infrastructure as part of the EGI Federated Cloud (FedCloud). - Research Center Machine Learning (Fraunhofer IAIS, SCAI)
The center cooperates with partners from business and industry as well as with universities and research institutions. - Bonn-Aachen International Center for Information Technology (b-it) (Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft & University of Bonn)
The Bonn-Aachen International Center for Information Technology (b-it) is one of Europe’s leading institutions for cutting-edge research and higher education in informatics. - LAMARR Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (Fraunhofer IAIS & University of Bonn)
The Lamarr Institute focuses on the research and development of high-performance, trustworthy, and resource-efficient applications of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). - WestAI, AI Competence Center (University of Bonn, Fraunhofer IAIS, SCAI)
WestAI gives players from business and science access to AI models and high-performance AI computing infrastructures. It supports start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises in using state-of-the-art AI technologies to turn innovative ideas into reality and open up new fields of application. - NeurotechEU, the European University of Brain and Technology (University of Bonn)
NeurotechEU, the European University of Brain and Technology, changed includes universities from nine countries. by building a trans-European network of excellence in brain research and technologies NeurotechEU increases the competitiveness of European education, research, economy, and society. - Kompetenzplattform KI.NRW (Fraunhofer IAIS & University of Bonn)
KI.NRW supports the transformation of North Rhine-Westphalia into a nationwide leading location for applied artificial intelligence (AI). The aim is to accelerate the transfer of AI from cutting-edge research to industry, to establish a model region for professional qualification in AI and to promote the social dialog about AI. - High Performance Computing and Analytics Lab (University of Bonn)
The High-Performance Computing and Analytics Lab (HPC/A Lab for short) coordinates and bundles activities relating to high-performance computing (HPC) at the University of Bonn. - Center for Earth System Observation and Computational analysis (CESOC) (University of Bonn)
A cooperation in research and teaching among the Universities of Bonn and Cologne and Forschungszentrum Jülich, working closely together with ECMWF and other cooperation partners to bundle expertise and tackle the current challenges of global environmental changes.
- Deutsches Referenzzentrum für Ethik in den Biowissenschaften (DRZE) (University of Bonn)
- Stemm Cell Network.NRW (University of Bonn), Research Locoation Bonn
- Graduate Circles Civil Law, Public Law, Criminal Law, History of Law (University of Bonn)
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Max Planck Law (with the participation of the MPI Collective Goods)
Max Planck Law is a cooperative forum of ten institutes of the Max Planck Society that conduct basic research in the legal sciences. They are jointly committed to scientific excellence, international orientation and interdisciplinary research.
- Bonn Alliance for Sustainability Research (bicc, IDOS, UNU-EHS, University of Bonn with its Center for Development Research (ZEF))
- Bonn Climate Group (IDOS, University of Bonn) (via e-mail distribution list)
- Bonn Water Network (bicc, IDOS, UNU-EHS, University of Bonn with its Center for Development Research (ZEF))
- BION e.V. – Biodiversitätsnetzwerk Bonn / Rhein-Sieg (University of Bonn with its Center for Development Research (ZEF), LIB)
- German Committee for Sustainability Research (DKN) in Future Earth (University of Bonn, IDOS)
- Observer Institution at UNFCCC, IPCC, UN CBD, IPES (University of Bonn, IDOS) (information via staff unit for BORA)
- SDSN Germany (IDOS, University of Bonn with the Center for Development Research (ZEF))
- WASCAL (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use) (UNU-EHS, University of Bonn)
- Center for Earth System Observation and Computational analysis (CESOC) (University of Bonn)
A cooperation in research and teaching among the Universities of Bonn and Cologne and Forschungszentrum Jülich, working closely together with ECMWF and other cooperation partners to bundle expertise and tackle the current challenges of global environmental changes.
- Bonn Alliance for Sustainability Research (bicc, IDOS, UNU-EHS, University of Bonn with its Center for Development Research (ZEF))
- Bonn Climate Group (IDOS, University of Bonn) (via e-mail distribution list)
- Bonn Network International Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction (University of Bonn, UNU-EHS)
- Bonn Water Network (bicc, IDOS, UNU-EHS, University of Bonn with its Center for Development Research (ZEF))
- German Committee for Sustainability Research (DKN) in Future Earth (University of Bonn, IDOS)
- Green Policy Platform (University of Bonn with its Center for Development Research (ZEF), IDOS)
- Observer Institution at UNFCCC, IPCC, UN CBD, IPES (University of Bonn, IDOS) (information via staff unit for BORA)
- SDSN Germany (IDOS, University of Bonn with the Center for Development Research (ZEF))
- WASCAL (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use) (UNU-EHS, University of Bonn)
- T20 Africa Think Tanks of Africa (IDOS)
- West German Genome Center (University of Bonn, DZNE)
The West German Genome Center is one of four national Next Generation Sequencing Competence Centers. We are a network of institutes west of the 7.1 E meridian who joined forces and expertise to advance NGS technologies and applications. - NeurotechEU, the European University of Brain and Technology (University of Bonn)
NeurotechEU, the European University of Brain and Technology, changed includes universities from nine countries. by building a trans-European network of excellence in brain research and technologies NeurotechEU increases the competitiveness of European education, research, economy, and society.
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From Bonn to Berlin
Many colleagues from BORA member institutions are active in advisory bodies to the federal government and share scientific knowledge.
From Bonn to the World
In the areas of climate and biodiversity, the University of Bonn, some BORA members and UN organizations work closely together.
Bonn Region
In many respects, our location offers the best conditions for excellent, international, transdisciplinary, closely networked research