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Study and research in Germany

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Study and research in Germany

Home « Study and research in Germany « Research « Research in Germany « Leading the Way in Innovative Research Fields

Leading the Way in Innovative Research Fields

German scientists are not only among the world's best in their traditional core fields: the "automobile nation" has become an attractive location for modern science and research. Because Germany also leads the way in new and forward-looking research fields:

  • Environmental Research
  • Nanotechnology
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Biotechnology
  • Optical Technologies
  • Microsystems Engineering


Photo: BASF - The Chemical Company
Photo: BASF - The Chemical CompanyEnvironmental Research provides one of the outstanding examples. German research labs are studying renewable energies – from photovoltaics through to wind energy, from fuel cells to nuclear fusion. This expertise is in demand, all around the world.


Germany has become a world market leader in many areas of Nanotechnology thanks to the wealth of innovations it has produced. German scientists are among the world's leading researchers in "ultra-thin layers", "lateral nanostructures", "ultra-precise processing of surfaces", "nanomaterials" and "nanoanalytics". In terms of nanotechnology patents, Germany is 1st in Europe. And worldwide has only been surpassed by the United States.


Nanoelectronics form an interface between nanotechnology and Information and Communications Technology. The electronics of the future will become ever smaller, ever faster, and ever more efficient, with ever greater performance. For example, one of the most modern semi-conductor technology research centres is currently being built in Dresden, in the direct vicinity of the world's first 300 mm wafer factory. Furthermore, special liquid crystals and the MP3 format have played a decisive role in shaping the development of information and communications technology.


Nowhere else in Europe are as many Biotechnology companies to be found as in Germany. Biotechnological activities range from the production of microbial metabolic products and fine chemicals, via pharmaceutical research to find new and modern effective agents through to all aspects of genome and proteome research.


Germany is a world market leader in many areas of Optical Technologies. In fact, it was only through this field that innovations in areas of German core competence, like mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and electronics, medical engineering, or lighting technology, became possible.


Germany also holds a leading position in the field of Microsystems Engineering and its applications. Microsystems are used in many areas. Not only in electronics-related fields like sensor and communications technology, but also in medial engineering, environmental engineering, and in biology, in automotive engineering, aerospace engineering and automation engineering. Microsystems engineering is continuing to develop and advance quickly and acts as a motor of innovation in practically all fields of industry.

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Research in Germany

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DAAD Glossary

Semester

The academic year in Germany is generally divided into two semesters rather than three terms, such as is generally the case in the UK and other countries. German universities generally have a winter semester that runs from October to March and a summer semester that runs from April to September. A semester includes both the period when courses and lectures are held (Vorlesungszeit) and the time without lectures (recess) in which students can revise and prepare (Vorlesungsfreiezeit).

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© 2009 Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst e.V. (DAAD), Kennedyallee 50, D-53175 Bonn
Source: http://www.daad.de/deutschland/forschung/forschungslandschaft/04729.en.html
Date: 2009-01-08