# Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Institut für Biologie

> research institute

**Wikidata**: [Q101260438](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101260438)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/friedrich-alexander-universitat-erlangen-nurnberg-institut-fur-biologie

## Summary
The Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Institut für Biologie is a research institute situated in Erlangen, Germany. It operates as a specialized academic unit within the larger Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, dedicated to conducting biological research.

## Key Facts
- **Location:** Headquartered in Erlangen, Germany.
- **Parent Organization:** Functions as a part of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
- **Classification:** Identified as an instance of a "research institute," an organization whose primary purpose is conducting research.
- **Identification:** Assigned the Ringgold ID 98885.
- **Library Classification:** As a research institute, it falls under the Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406 and Library of Congress authority ID sh85113043.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of organization is the Institut für Biologie?
A: It is classified as a research institute. This distinguishes it from entities like scientific societies or think tanks, as its primary function is hands-on systematic investigation rather than membership activities or policy advocacy.

### Q: Where is the institute located and affiliated?
A: The institute is headquartered in Erlangen, Germany, and operates as a constituent part of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.

### Q: How is a research institute like this different from a think tank?
A: While this institute focuses on fundamental scientific inquiry and generating new knowledge in biology, think tanks primarily conduct research to influence government policy and public decision-making.

## Why It Matters
As a dedicated research institute, the Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Institut für Biologie serves as a focused engine for scientific discovery within the German academic landscape. By operating as a distinct unit within the university, it can concentrate resources and talent purely on biological investigation, free from the commercial pressures found in corporate research or the policy constraints often placed on think tanks. This organizational structure supports the generation of new knowledge and long-term scientific inquiry, contributing to the broader infrastructure required to address complex biological questions.

## Notable For
- **Specialized Focus:** Dedicated exclusively to biological research activities, distinguishing it from general scientific societies.
- **Academic Integration:** Notable for its specific role as a research unit within the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
- **Standardized Identification:** Recognized through unique identifiers such as the Ringgold ID 98885 and Geonames feature code S.ITTR.

## Body
The Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Institut für Biologie is a fundamental component of the research infrastructure in Erlangen, Germany.

### Organizational Structure and Affiliation
The institute is formally integrated into the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. While universities typically balance teaching and research missions, this entity exists specifically as a research institute, a distinct organizational form designed to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. It is distinguished from "research centers," which are often sub-units, by its classification as a full institute.

### Geographic and Administrative Data
The institute's headquarters are located in the city of Erlangen. This location places it within Germany's robust network of scientific organizations. In terms of administrative identification, the institute holds the Ringgold ID 98885, a unique identifier used in the scholarly supply chain to disambiguate organizations.

### Classification and Definition
The entity is formally classified as a "research institute." In library and knowledge organization systems, this classification carries specific implications:
*   **Distinction from Think Tanks:** Unlike think tanks, which focus on policy-oriented research, this institute engages in fundamental inquiry.
*   **Distinction from Societies:** It differs from learned or scientific societies because it is an operational entity conducting investigations rather than a membership-based association.
*   **Metadata Standards:** The concept of the research institute is mapped to `schema.org/ResearchOrganization` for structured data and utilizes the Geonames feature code S.ITTR for geographic identification.

## References

1. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions