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Berlin offers a closely linked ecosystem of universities, technology parks, start-ups, professional associations, interest groups, and other major players in the world of science. This makes Berlin a sought-after location for meetings on scientific issues. Sixteen per cent of all events in Berlin already address matters related to medicine and science. That makes it worthwhile delving deeper into the world of Berlin as a centre for science and research.

Whether in chemistry, physics, or medicine, Berlin’s Nobel laureates have been leaders in many areas of research. Or did you know that Berlin was even called “Nobel Prize Town” at the beginning of the 20th century? Several laureates of the era came from Berlin, among them Albert Einstein, Max Planck, Robert Koch and Gustav Hertz. Many important inventions have also come out of Berlin: the electron microscope was developed by Berlin physicist Ernst Ruska.

Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung

Berlin is not just a centre for science; it is also the political centre of Germany. As a result, many professional associations and interest groups have offices in the capital city. Whether it’s electrical or metalworking associations or internet communications lobbyists, the organisations and their employees represent a lot of expertise amassed in one city that helps drive their respective industries.

Business and science are working hand-in-hand in Berlin on projects that will shape the world’s future. At the Adlershof Science and Technology Park, also known as the “smartest neighbourhood” in Berlin, non-university research institutes, specialist centres, and incubators share the campus with the natural sciences faculty of Humboldt University. In total, the technology park houses more than 1,000 companies with over 15,000 employees. BiotechPark Berlin-Buch is a place for start-ups and more established companies to collaborate primarily in the field of biomedicine.

Technologiepark Berlin Adlershof

Almost 19,000 professors, lecturers, staff, and tutors conduct research and teach in Berlin. The city’s top research universities include the Free University, Humboldt University, the Charité University for Medicine Berlin and TU Berlin. 

International collaborations like the Berlin University Alliance and partnerships promote the international profile of scientific research and teaching in Berlin.

Berlin universities attract students from far afield: 60% of students moved to Berlin for their studies and 18% have foreign roots – ideal prerequisites for the exchange of knowledge and new perspectives. 

Freie Universität Berlin

Research projects at non-university institutions such as the Frauenhofer Institut and the Helmholtz Association focus on future-oriented topics and innovations: robotics and mechatronics, molecular medicine, urban studies, and environmental protection represent only a small part of the research fields pursued by Berlin’s scientific community.

Berlin’s start-up scene is growing ... and growing. Today 60,000 people in the city work for recently founded companies, most of which are seeking answers to the questions of tomorrow. These include challenges in the areas of healthcare, mobility, and fintech.

The figures for Berlin as a centre for science speak for themselves. And that’s why the city on the River Spree is a top choice for science-related events. For example, for the past nine years, Berlin has hosted the World Health Summit, the world’s most important strategic forum for global health care issues.