For strong non-university research in Berlin
With greater impact: As an association, BR50 can promote networking in the Berlin research area even more strongly.
The non-university research institutions in Berlin will work even more closely together in the future. Their association Berlin Research 50 (BR50), founded in 2020, has joined forces to form a registered non-profit association on 4. October 2022. Together, the research institutions want to further develop and strengthen Berlin as a science location.
Representatives of the institutions gathered at the Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB) for the official founding of the association. A five-member board was also elected. Following the founding, the association now comprises 27 research and science institutions, including Leibniz and Max Planck Institutes, Helmholtz Centres and federal departmental research institutions. Other non-university institutions in Berlin are associated with the association as partners in the network.
As an association, BR50 will support its member institutions even more in networking with each other and with other scientific actors in Berlin and represent the interests of non-university institutions.
You can find more information on the BR50 page.
BR 50 Podcast - lots of exciting research
Many societal challenges, such as climate change, are far too complex for one scientific discipline to solve alone. But together they are making progress. The BR 50 podcast gives an insight into how versatile the research of "non-university" scientists is. In two podcast episodes, listen to how the Helmholtz Centre Berlin is advancing the energy transformation in society with its research. Here you get to the podcast (in German).
- Materials chemistry shapes the future of catalysisThe synthesis of materials can serve as a tool for developing smart, adaptive electrocatalysts. This rapidly evolving field of research involves in-situ analytics, data-driven discoveries and autonomous robotics. These new approaches could accelerate the discovery of long-lasting and efficient catalysts for future energy conversion and the decarbonisation of the chemical industry. A recent article by Dr Prashanth Menezes and his team in the renowned journal Angewandte Chemie provides an overview of this research.
- Imaging Ellipsometry for Process Control of Thin-Film DevicesA German–Israeli research team led by Dr. Andreas Furchner has demonstrated how imaging ellipsometry enables non-destructive characterisation and quality control of microstructured MXene thin films during device fabrication. The authors used two complementary ellipsometry approaches for precise, multi-scale access to key material properties. The work positions imaging ellipsometry as a powerful platform for monitoring thin-film uniformity, device integrity, and functionality throughout processing, including critical lithographic steps. The study was published in Applied Physics Letters and selected as an Editor’s Pick.
- Cool vaccines in rural Kenya: solar solution has been awarded by UNIn May 2026, Tabitha Awuor Amollo is spending some weeks as a guest scientist at HZB, analysing perovskite thin films at BESSY II. The Kenyan physicist from Egerton University, Nairobi, was recently recognised for her achievements in research and teaching. For the development of a solar-powered refrigeration system for use in rural health centres, she has been awarded the 2026 Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)-Elsevier Foundation Award. An interview on exceptional projects and daily struggles of a scientist. Questions were asked by Antonia Rötger.