Photon Science 2024

In a time of significant challenges – financial constraints,
geopolitical instabilities and heightened international compe
tition – DESY faces a demanding landscape. Rising personnel
costs, volatile energy prices and inflation driven reductions
in purchasing power put us under considerable pressure,
and the priority is to lead DESY safely into the future.
At the heart of our strategy stands the ambitious PETRA IV
upgrade project. The conversion of PETRA III into a state
of the art fourth generation X ray light source is essential
not only for DESY’s advancement but also for strengthe
ning international research and securing Germany’s
technological sovereignty. As the world’s most advanced
and brilliant X ray source, PETRA IV will enable unprece
dented precision in studying materials and biological
macromolecules, paving the way for pioneering innova
tions, such as AI driven material design.
The DESY infrastructure focus also includes transformative
projects. The new DESYUM visitor centre, whose construc
tion is progressing according to plan, will soon be a public
landmark and could become the iconic symbol of the
Hamburg Bahrenfeld campus. Through our Centre for
Accelerator Science and Technology (CAST) and the DESY
Innovation Factory, an integrated technology and start up
centre, we are expanding the “Bahrenfeld ecosystem” by
linking research and innovation to drive technological and
economic development.
This is my last foreword for an annual report as the
chairman of the DESY Board of Directors, and I would like
to take this opportunity to make a few personal remarks:
It has been an honour to serve in this role. I would like to
thank all DESY employees and our national and interna
tional partners for their trust over the past 15 years, and
especially the Board members for their unique team spirit
and constructive cooperation. Together, we have achieved
numerous successes, including the remarkable construction
of the European XFEL from 2009 to 2017, a masterpiece
“made by DESY”, the establishment of the Astroparticle
Physics Division, the strategic expansion of nanoscience
and laser plasma research and the successful operation of
PETRA III, FLASH and the European XFEL as Hamburg’s
flagship photon sources. We are continuing a long tradition:
Since the commissioning of its first particle accelerator in
1964, DESY has been one of the pioneers of research with
synchrotron radiation worldwide.
I reflect with pride on the growth of the two DESY sites in
Hamburg and Zeuthen together with our partners. The
new interdisciplinary research centres – CFEL, CSSB and
CXNS for photon science, the recently opened Science
Data Management Centre (SDMC) for astroparticle physics,
the ongoing projects mentioned above as well as the
planned Wolfgang Pauli Centre for theoretical physics
(WPC) and Centre for Molecular Water Science (CMWS) –
are visionary initiatives that will contribute to streng
thening Germany’s research landscape as a whole and the
innovation regions of Hamburg and Zeuthen in particular.
A highlight of my time at DESY has been the recruitment of
renowned scientists. With the appointment of over 30 W3
professorships, including 15 women, and close collabora
tions with universities in Hamburg, Schleswig Holstein,
Berlin, Brandenburg and beyond, we have enhanced our
scientific network and supported our university partners’
excellence. Particularly noteworthy are the new members
on the DESY Board of Directors in 2025: Beate Heinemann,
Wim Leemans, Britta Redlich, Christian Stegmann and Arik
Willner, bringing science, innovation and technology
transfer expertise. With this exceptional team, DESY is
well equipped to master future challenges.
When I will hand over the helm to Beate Heinemann in
spring 2025, I will do so in a turbulent time not only for
DESY. Research and social issues can no longer be
addressed only on the national level. Sharing expertise and
infrastructures and thereby strengthening international
cooperations is becoming more important: Innovation is
the key for our future. Therefore, the pending political
decision for PETRA IV is crucial for DESY and our national
and international partners and users, and I hope for swift
action in the next period.
I extend my best wishes to all DESY staff, hoping you will
continue to lead this remarkable research centre into a
bright future. Thank you all and also our partners for
constant support and excellent cooperation over the years.
I wish DESY continued success and that essential extra bit
of luck