The natural strengths of the state are used in a wide range of sustainable ways in science and research. Mecklenburg- Vorpommern stands for cutting-edge research, excellent teaching and innovative technologies.
Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics
In the 725-tonne Wendelstein 7-X plant of the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Greifswald, research is being conducted in international cooperation on how energy can be extracted from the fusion of hydrogen atoms – similar to the processes in the sun. The aim of the fusion research is to develop a power station friendly to the environment and climate. The fusion plant in Greifswald is the largest and most state-of-the-art of its kind worldwide. Following the first two experimentation phases, the fusion plant is now advanced to the point that plasma pulses can be generated in the plant with high heat output for up to 30 minutes, thereby demonstrating feasibility for continued operation. More than 450 people are employed at the institute.
Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde
The Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research conducts interdisciplinary marine research. (Image: Leibniz-Institut für Ostseeforschung)
The Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) researches coastal seas such as the Baltic Sea as part of an interdisciplinary approach. Extensive monitoring programmes provide the basis for understanding interdependencies within the ecosystem. Innovative measurement techniques allow harmful substances such as pesticides or microplastics to be detected. Using computer models, future scenarios are created that illustrate the responses of the seas and their ecosys- tems to intensive use by human society or to climate change.
The IOW thus produces the necessary knowledge for sustainable activities for the benefit of the Baltic Sea – and is internationally recognised for its work. In 2022, Maren Voß, Professor for Marine Biogeochemistry, was awarded the Björn Carlson Baltic Sea Prize for her ground-breaking research on the importance of nitrogen in marine systems.