Max Delbrück Center

The Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association aims to transform tomorrow’s medicine through our discoveries of today. Pioneering a systems level approach and technological advances, scientists at locations in Berlin-Buch, Berlin-Mitte, Heidelberg and Mannheim, decipher shared mechanisms of complex diseases. 

Through academic, clinical, and industry partnerships, as well as global networks, scientists strive to translate biological discoveries into solutions for a healthy society. These solutions will help detect earliest deviations from health in our cells, to stop the progression of diseases before they can cause major damage to the body, to personalize treatment, and ultimately prevent diseases. 

First founded in 1992, the Max Delbrück Center today inspires and nurtures a diverse talent pool of 1,800 people from over 70 countries, among them 27 ERC grant winners. Every day, people from completely different backgrounds come together at the Max Delbrück Center to create something new.

Frontier research

The Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association aims to transform tomorrow’s medicine through our discoveries of today. Pioneering a systems level approach and technological advances, scientists at locations in Berlin-Buch, Berlin-Mitte, Heidelberg and Mannheim, decipher shared mechanisms of complex diseases.

Through academic, clinical, and industry partnerships, as well as global networks, scientists strive to translate biological discoveries into solutions for a healthy society. These solutions will help detect earliest deviations from health in our cells, to stop the progression of diseases before they can cause major damage to the body, to personalize treatment, and ultimately prevent diseases.

First founded in 1992, the Max Delbrück Center today inspires and nurtures a diverse talent pool of 1,800 people from over 70 countries, among them 27 ERC grant winners. Every day, people from completely different backgrounds come together at the Max Delbrück Center to create something new.

Governance challenges in delivering low-carbon energy changes: how to integrate socio-technical system change with the places and communities?

The frontier research area homes in on vital, under-examined aspects of the governance challenges of delivering low-carbon energy systems, each one requiring analysis of concrete implementation challenges, in specific places, and novel interdisciplinary bridging between social and technical sciences.

Read more
The area embraces three connected areas of work. (i) Research on Local Area Energy Plans in Wales is unearthing the real-world challenges of developing strategies that can align multiple actors. (ii) Analysis of the end-of-life outcomes for decommissioned wind farms is exposing the practical challenges of interfacing the construction of circular economies for materials, with place-based environmental regulation. (iii) Analysis of the difficult legacy effects of previous fossil fuel spaces on innovative energy system projects is being advanced by injecting closer attention to infrastructural development struggles into our understanding of socio-technical energy system change.

Frontier research

This research qualifies as ‘frontier research’, because it responds to clear deficits in our empirical, theoretical and policy-relevant knowledge of energy transition, as follows. Many nations are moving towards a second, more difficult phase of energy decarbonisation where initial emphasis simply on growing renewable electricity generation needs to be expanded to become a cross-vector decarbonisation of energy, transport and heat. To respond, researchers need to adjust and expand their focus to engage effectively with these more complex, multi-factoral challenges, which entails interfacing social science and technical expertise in novel ways. At the same time, there is a need for research that moves beyond the laboratory, or abstract analyses of ‘technical potential’ and ‘economic optimality’, to engage critically with the challenges of building new energy systems on the ground. This means dealing seriously with issues of land use conflict, environmental regulation and place change, as key elements in change dynamics, with consequences that ramify into policy and political domains. These are also the arenas in which aspirations for ‘just transitions’ need to be made meaningful.

Exploring Human Origins in Eurasia

The IPHES-CERCA provides a spacious and stimulating research environment, with laboratories fully equipped to analyze a wide range of biotic and abiotic remains recovered from archaeological contexts. Our researchers work with state-of-the-art technologies, including advanced computing systems, digital microscopy, conservation and restoration facilities, as well as 3D imaging and photogrammetry tools that enable increasingly precise documentation and analysis.

Over the years, we have established strong collaborations with leading international research teams, united by a shared commitment to preserving, advancing, and disseminating knowledge of our common archaeological heritage. These partnerships enhance the global reach and scientific impact of our work.

Read more

Driven by a sustained commitment to excellence, our institute develops multidisciplinary projects that foster collaboration and frequently lead to the emergence of new conceptual and methodological frameworks. Through innovative excavation techniques, advanced analytical methods, and original theoretical models, the IPHES-CERCA researchers continuously challenge established paradigms and open new paths of inquiry.

Throughout its history, the IPHES-CERCA has prioritized the rigorous development and testing of scientific hypotheses grounded in high-quality empirical data, while embracing ambitious research questions that push the boundaries of the field. This approach has positioned the institute as an international reference in archeological research, consistently contributing significant advances and setting new standards.

Importantly, our research also engages with pressing global challenges. By examining how past human populations responded to climate change, resource limitations, and shifting ecosystems, we generate critical insights into resilience, adaptability, and long-term sustainability. In this way, while firmly rooted in fundamental research, our work carries meaningful implications for contemporary and future societies.

Ultimately, frontier research at IPHES-CERCA is defined by intellectual rigor, methodological innovation, and a persistent drive to expand the horizons of human knowledge, deepening our understanding of where we come from and what it means to be human.

Water and Sustainable Development

IHE Delft has six academic departments: 1. Water Governance; 2. Coastal and Urban Risk & Resilience; 3. Hydroinformatics and Socio-technical Innovation; 4. Land & Water Management; 5. Water Resources and Ecosystems; 6. Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering

The Institute’s research focuses on global water sustainability, applied and socially relevant research.

Read more
IHE Delft is the largest Water Education facility in the world. The Intitute is positioned to play a significant role in the water-related transition to a sustainable world through the pursuit of research that is cutting edge, demand driven, targeting pragmatic, evidence-based solutions. In 2018, IHE Delft became a UNESCO Category-2 institute and the Insitute is part of the UN water family. It has entered many with governments, NGOs and organizations across the world. We carry out cutting edge and demand-driven research, targeting pragmatic, evidence-based solutions. The institute strives to operate as a linking pin between universities and knowledge institutes in the Global South and North.
Behind the education, science and research are the human stories of lived experiences. The inviduals lives of our alumni who experience career promotions after studying at IHE Delft, the life in communities their work improves and the nationwide impact of their work on solving global challenges. IHE Delft would like to host research journalists to unlock these stories, revealing the multiplier effect of education from individual, community, national and even international level.

German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig

The German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) is focused on understanding the variety of life on earth. We measure and monitor how this diversity is changing, and how it affects ecosystem functioning and services. We are establishing the scientific basis for sustainably managing, protecting, and restoring biodiversity for a more resilient future.

Read More

Frontier Science
Biodiversity research explores fundamental, complex, and often poorly understood aspects of life on Earth. It has potential to generate transformative insights and solutions, by pushing the boundaries of current scientific knowledge by:
– Addressing Complex Systems: Biodiversity involves intricate interactions among species and ecosystems, requiring innovative, interdisciplinary approaches.
– Tackling Unpredictable Challenges: Biodiversity research deals with dynamic issues like species extinction, climate change, and ecosystem collapse, where outcomes are uncertain and research must evolve rapidly.
– Driving Scientific Innovation: Biodiversity research – even though considered basic research – often leads to new methods in genetics, data analysis, remote sensing, and ecological modeling.
– Informing Policy and Sustainability: Research in this area directly impacts conservation efforts and global sustainability strategies.

The Future of the Research Ecosystem: A New Paradigm of Resilience and Global Cooperation

In an era defined by rapid globalization, technological advancements, and interdisciplinary research, mobility programmes—designed to enable researchers to move across borders—are emerging as critical tools in shaping the future of the research ecosystem. However, these programmes are operating in an increasingly complex landscape, marked by talent acquisition challenges, limited funding, political instability, and a lack of effective talent development pipelines. These interconnected factors demand urgent attention to ensure that the global research community continues to thrive and evolve, despite the pressing challenges it faces.

Read More

Mobility Programmes: Bridging the Gap in Talent Acquisition
Talent acquisition is one of the most pressing concerns for the global research ecosystem today. As countries and institutions vie for skilled researchers, scientists, and innovators, the competition has become fiercer, and the brain drain phenomenon is growing.

Talent Development and Training Gaps: The Missing Link
While mobility programmes play a crucial role in talent redistribution, they cannot fully address the root causes of the talent gap in many countries. In many parts of the world, education systems and training infrastructures are struggling to keep pace with the demands of a rapidly evolving research landscape.

Funding Crises and Political Unrest: Eroding the Research Foundation
In addition to talent gaps, the global research ecosystem is facing severe funding crises that disproportionately affect early-career researchers and research in underfunded regions. Research budgets have stagnated in many countries, and in some, they are being slashed due to economic downturns, shifting political priorities, or austerity measures.

Frontier Science
The project on “The Role of Mobility Programmes in Shaping the Future of the Research Ecosystem Amidst Talent Acquisition Challenges and Global Crises” qualifies as frontier research for several reasons. This research pushes the boundaries of global scientific collaboration, policy innovation, and sustainable talent development in response to the rapidly changing dynamics of the global research environment. Here’s why this project is considered frontier research:
1. Addressing Global Talent Shortages and Disruptions
2. Innovating Global Research Collaboration Frameworks
3. Interdisciplinary Integration of Policy, Technology, and Education
4. Reimagining the Future of Research Ecosystems
5. Developing New Models for Talent Development in Crisis Situations
6. Expanding Access to Research Opportunities in Under-Resourced Regions
7. Long-Term Implications for Science Diplomacy and Global Knowledge Sharing
8. Leveraging Technology to Overcome Mobility Barriers

This project qualifies as frontier research because it addresses some of the most critical and urgent challenges facing the global research ecosystem today. It is exploring new models of research collaboration, talent development, and global mobility that are not just innovative but essential for the future of science. The interdisciplinary nature of the project, its focus on resilience, and its exploration of technology-driven solutions to address talent shortages, political instability, and economic crises position it at the cutting edge of global research. It has the potential to reshape how we think about global collaboration, equity, and innovation in the research ecosystem in the years to come.

The Role of Accelerators in Medicine and Treatment: Revolutionizing Cancer Therapy and Precision Medicine

Accelerators, which have traditionally been used in particle physics, are now being integrated into medical treatments, particularly in cancer therapy and diagnostic imaging. The research explores how advanced particle accelerators can improve the precision, efficiency, and effectiveness of radiation treatments for cancer, as well as their potential role in personalized medicine.

Read More

Frontier research

The project on The Role of Accelerators in Medicine and Treatment qualifies as frontier research because it lies at the intersection of cutting-edge physics, advanced technology, and healthcare. Here’s why it’s on the frontier of modern scientific exploration:
1. Innovative Cross-Disciplinary Approach: The integration of particle accelerators, originally designed for fundamental physics experiments, into medical treatments represents a revolutionary application of technology. This involves combining expertise from fields as diverse as particle physics, medical oncology, bioengineering, and genetics to create novel therapeutic approaches. Such cross-disciplinary research is still in its nascent stages, making it a frontier field where new knowledge is being created on multiple fronts simultaneously.

2. Novel Therapeutic Approaches in Cancer Treatment: Proton therapy and heavy-ion radiation are already showing promise in clinical applications, but the technology is still far from fully realized and widely accessible. By advancing accelerator-based radiation therapies, researchers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in precision medicine. These therapies are not only more effective for certain cancers, but they also minimize collateral damage to healthy tissue, which is a critical improvement over conventional treatments like X-ray radiotherapy. The potential for this to be a more refined, adaptable, and universally effective treatment is still a largely unexplored frontier.

3. Advancement of Personalized Medicine: The use of accelerators in genetic therapies and targeted drug delivery is pushing the frontier of personalized medicine. By tailoring treatments at the genetic level—whether through gene editing (e.g., CRISPR) or gene therapy—this research holds the potential to revolutionize how we treat diseases, especially those that were once deemed untreatable, like certain genetic disorders and cancers. The concept of using precise particle beams to deliver genetic material into cells is a novel approach, and its application in medicine is still in the early stages, making it a pioneering area of exploration.

4. Technological Advancements in Accelerator Design: The development of compact, affordable accelerators for clinical use is a groundbreaking pursuit. Traditionally, accelerators have been large, expensive machines confined to specialized centers. However, the push for smaller, cost-effective accelerators that can be used in everyday hospitals and clinics is challenging conventional thinking and has the potential to democratize access to cutting-edge treatments. This is not only a technological breakthrough but also a disruptive innovation in healthcare infrastructure, making high-tech treatments available to a broader population.

5. Improving Diagnostic Tools with Particle Beams: The use of accelerator-based imaging techniques, such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET), is advancing.

Hochschule Geisenheim University

Geisenheim university specializes in research that addresses some of the most pressing global challenges of our time—climate change, biodiversity loss, and creating sustainable food systems—with a distinct specialization in special crops like grapes, fruits and vegetables. Our research covers the entire value chain—from sustainable cultivation and processing to marketing and urban landscape development. We conduct both fundamental and applied research, closely collaborating with regional producers, municipalities, and a wide network of international partners. Our research activities include the following 5 core areas which the potential collaboration with Frontiers Research could focus on:

Read More

Climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable crop production: From viticulture and horticulture to ornamental plant cultivation, we explore innovative and resource-efficient farming systems. Our work includes plant breeding, smart irrigation and the use of sensor technologies to optimize inputs and reduce environmental impact.
Bioeconomy and food innovation: We investigate how plant-based products can be processed sustainably and marketed successfully, focusing on food safety and fresh produce logistics. Topics include extraction and formulation of functional ingredients from harvest products and their health effects, circular production systems and consumer behaviour and preferences.
Urban green spaces and cultural landscapes:Our interdisciplinary research focuses on developing and assessing nature-based solutions and climate adaptation strategies for urban and rural landscapes—with particular attention to traditional winegrowing regions. We investigate how green infrastructure can contribute to ecological resilience and environmental quality in cities and cultural landscapes under climate stress. We actively contribute to regional transformation processes, including close cooperation with the Rheingau region within a living lab and the Federal Garden Exhibition (BUGA) 2029.
Climate change adaptation and mitigation: We assess risks and develop strategies to ensure food security, protect biodiversity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Current projects range from water management, use of biochar and pest control to agroforestry and agro-PV.
Digital transformation in agriculture and landscape planning: We implement and evaluate digital tools—from drone technology and sensor-based diagnostics to AI-driven modelling and precision agriculture —for improved decision-making in production, processing, and spatial planning.
These research fields offer rich storytelling opportunities for science journalists. Our unique infrastructure provide direct access to field trials, labs, greenhouses, and real-world innovation environments. Our 50 professors along with researchers from all over the world use this unique research setup as part of our ca. 180 international cooperations with universities, institutions and companies.

Frontier Research

Geisenheim University conducts research that breaks new ground at the intersection of plant science, climate adaptation, food systems, and landscape transformation. Our distinctive focus on special crops—such as grapes, fruits, and vegetables—provides a highly specific yet globally relevant research area, in which we explore urgent questions about the sustainability and resilience of our food systems in the face of climate change and biodiversity losses.
Geisenheim University’s work is frontier research because we tackle complex, system-level questions: How can vineyards and horticultural systems adapt to increasing heat and drought? How can cultural landscapes be reimagined as multifunctional, biodiversity-supporting, and socially inclusive spaces? How can digital tools—from virtual vineyards to AI-driven pest forecasting—support sustainable agriculture in real time?
Our university plays a key role in real-world transformation processes. Through experimental settings such as the Living Lab Rheingau and contributions to the implementation of the Federal Garden Exhibition (BUGA) 2029 in the Middle Rhine Valley, we co-create knowledge with stakeholders and test new solutions under real conditions. This collaborative and innovative approach expands classical research formats and bridges the gap between science, policy, and practice.
Furthermore, we also maintain close cooperation with companies—ranging from local producers to international partners—ensuring that our research remains relevant, applicable, and forward-looking. We actively support innovation and entrepreneurship by encouraging new ideas and start-up initiatives developed by our students and academic staff.
Through the combination of methodological innovation, transdisciplinary ambition, and real-world relevance, our research not only generates new knowledge—it challenges and reshapes existing paradigms in agriculture, climate science, and landscape planning.
Furthermore, our focus on special crops – a largely underrepresented field in mainstream agricultural research – opens up new scientific terrain, particularly in relation to climate adaptation, soil health and the sustainable processing of plant-based foods.
With its interdisciplinary setup, experimental openness and transfer orientation, our research not only explores future scenarios—it helps shape them.
A key success factor for this is a close collaboration with all involved parties, be it authorities, industry partner or the general public. Thus, getting support and partnership for the Geisenheim research areas from the Frontiers network would significantly contribute to the success of the transformation of the agriculture as such.

Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS)

The Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS) is an elite research center at the University of Southern Denmark, bringing together exceptional minds from various disciplines to inspire groundbreaking ideas and foster interdisciplinary research. DIAS supports curiosity-driven research and encourages collaboration across different fields and levels of expertise.
One of DIAS’s key initiatives is “Wicked Problems,” which addresses complex issues that lack clear solutions and require multidisciplinary approaches. The goal is to explore the complexity of these challenges, paving the way for new perspectives and potential scientific breakthroughs.

Read More

At the moment, we have three Wicked Problems running:

1. Complex Cross-Sectorial Challenges in Africa: Challenge 1 – The West-African Climate-Nature-Health Nexus
Using Guinea Bissau as a case study, this project explores how global inequality is exacerbated by climate change disproportionately affecting the world’s poorest countries. By framing the extensive, complex, and disproportionate impacts of climate change as a wicked problem, the project aims to shed light on environmental, economic, and health impacts faced by underprivileged nations, and to ultimately collaborate with local communities to improve their living conditions and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
Project leadership:
Christine Stabell Benn, DIAS Chair of Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Research, SDU

2. Interacting Robots in Everyday Life and the Transformation of Society (IRELTS)
This project explores the technical and societal dynamics of integrating robots into daily life. By framing human-robot interaction as a potential wicked problem, the project aims to enhance the understanding of both robots and humans, emphasizing the need for predictive models of human behavior to ensure smooth interactions and positive societal reception.
Project leadership:
Norbert Krüger, DIAS Chair of Engineering, the Maersk McKinney Moller Institute, SDU

3. Capitalism in the Danish Experience
This project explores the economic trajectory of capitalism, specifically how it has been shaped by historical contingencies, social conflicts, and global entanglements, using Denmark as a case study. By framing capitalism itself as a wicked problem, the project seeks to move beyond simplistic narratives and instead explore the complexities that define Denmark’s economic development.
Project leadership:
Paul Sharp, DIAS Chair of Business and Social Sciences, Department of Economics, SDU
Jeppe Nevers, DIAS Chair of Humanities, Department of Language and Culture, SDU

Frontier Research
Our project at the Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS) qualifies as frontier research due to its interdisciplinary approach, curiosity-driven focus, and global impact. DIAS brings together top researchers from various fields to tackle complex societal challenges, fostering innovative solutions and groundbreaking ideas. The “Wicked Problems” initiative exemplifies this by addressing issues that lack clear solutions and require multidisciplinary approaches, paving the way for new perspectives and potential scientific breakthroughs.

Science journalists working with DIAS through the Frontiers database can gain access to cutting-edge research and collaborate with leading experts, enhancing their storytelling with rich, compelling content. The experience offered by the FRONTIERS residency program allows journalists to deeply understand the research process and the complexities of frontier science, providing valuable networking opportunities and insights into the latest scientific advancements.

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY

DESY is a world leading accelerator centre. As one of Germany’s largest research centres, DESY carries out fundamental research that creates new knowledge and new conceptual approaches. This research is the basis on which the challenges of the future can be mastered: Issues such as energy supply, climate protection and healthcare require long-term thinking, sustainable solutions and new technologies. The research carried out at DESY is extremely diverse. The scientists who work here are looking for the tiniest building blocks of matter that make up our world, developing innovative high-tech materials and searching for new mechanisms of action for future medications. As one of Germany’s largest research centres, DESY carries out fundamental research that creates new knowledge and new conceptual approaches. This research is the basis on which the challenges of the future can be mastered: issues such as energy supply, climate protection and healthcare require long-term thinking, sustainable solutions and new technologies.

Research at DESY focuses on four areas: accelerators, photon science, particle physics and astroparticle physics.

Read More
Frontier research

DESY has constantly driven technology solutions and science. Together with partners all over the world, researchers at DESY have developed an innovative concept called TESLA technology. This accelerator concept is to serve not only as the basis of a future super-accelerator for particle physics but also as the most powerful X-ray source in the world – the European XFEL X-ray laser in Hamburg. In addition, the experts at DESY are working on concepts for the future – laser-plasma acceleration is one example, where the teams at DESY achieved recent breakthroughs (see https://www.desy.de/news/news_search/index_eng.html?openDirectAnchor=3773&two_columns=0 and https://www.desy.de/news/news_search/index_eng.html?openDirectAnchor=3761&two_columns=0). In addition. DESY is currently planning the world’s leading 4D X-ray microscope that will surpass everything that has gone before in terms of brilliance and performance. PETRA IV is an ultra-modern, fourth-generation synchrotron radiation source that will be created by converting the existing PETRA III facility. Electrons travel at almost the speed of light in the 2.3 kilometre long accelerator ring. PETRA IV will enable frontier research.