The Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Leipzig was founded on 1 July 1846, under the name of Royal Saxon Society of Sciences. It follows the tradition of scientific academies set out by Leibnitz around 1700: bringing together scientists from various disciplines for regular exchanges of ideas, discussing methods and findings of specialized research in an interdisciplinary dialogue, conducting long-term research projects, and combining “theoriam cum praxi”—the union of theory and practice. To this end the Academy regularly convenes nationally and internationally renowned scholars for cross-disciplinary discussions.

The Max Planck Society (MPG) was founded in 1948 to keep up the tradition of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gesellschaft. Many outstanding reserachers have worked and continue to work at this most renowned German research organization, as exemplified by the large number of nobel laureates among its ranks. After the reunification in 1989 the society founded new institutes in several locations in Eastern Germany. Three of them are located in Leipzig.

Leipzig’s research diversity is reflected in its four Leibniz Institutes. The Leibniz Association, named after the philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646–1716), a native of Leipzig, is one of Germany’s four non-university research organizations. It connects 96 independent institutes focusing on fields such as natural sciences, engineering, economics, and the humanities. Addressing socially, economically, and ecologically relevant topics, the Leibniz Institutes are jointly funded by federal and state governments due to their national significance.

Leipzig University is organized into 14 faculties with more than 100 institutes. The research topics cover a broad spectrum of disciplines in life sciences, social sciences and humanities, and the natural sciences — with particular strength in the fields of global interactions, (bio-)materials, intelligent materials, biotechnology, mathematical sciences, and biodiversity.

The German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) is a leading research center in biodiversity sciences with a research focus on insights into the biological diversity of Earth. Researchers from all over the world cooperate to build the scientific foundation of a sustainable development in biological diversity. Moreover, the center reaches out to the civil society – for instance through its internationally oriented media relations, or in events like the Long Night of Sciences, the Leipzig Book Fair, or SPIN 2030.

The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) was founded and developed as part of German reunification with the aim of establishing a “broadly based center for researching the ecology of industrialized urban regions.” Today, it stands as one of the world’s leading research centers in environmental science. More than 1,000 employees at the UFZ share the goal of identifying ways to reconcile a healthy environment with societal development through cutting-edge research. Their work has played a key role in transforming the Leipzig area into a rich ecosystem with significant recreational value.

The Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum (DBFZ) explores how the limited resources of biomass can be used with maximum sustainability and efficiency in our energy systems. To this end the insitute identifies, develops, supports, evaluates, and demonstrates the most promising fields of application of bioenergy. Thus, its work extends our knowledge about the opportunities and limitations of the energetic and physical use of renewable raw materials, and it permanently secures the leading role of German industry in this sector.