# Helmholtz Centre Hereon

> research institution in Geesthacht, Germany

**Wikidata**: [Q1290544](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1290544)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/helmholtz-centre-hereon

## Summary
The Helmholtz Centre Hereon is a research institute located in Geesthacht, Germany, focused on materials and coastal research. Formerly known as the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG) and GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht, the institution is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres. Founded in 1956, it operates as a limited liability company owned partially by the German federal government and several German states.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon (adopted in 2021).
- **Former Names:** Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht, Gesellschaft für Kernenergieverwertung in Schiffbau und Schiffahrt.
- **Location:** Geesthacht, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany (Coordinates: 53.41°N, 10.42°E).
- **Inception:** 1956.
- **Parent Organization:** Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres.
- **Ownership Structure:** Owned by the Federal Republic of Germany (70.652%), Schleswig-Holstein (2.5%), Hamburg (1.25%), Lower Saxony (0.625%), and Brandenburg (0.00625%).
- **Memberships:** German Marine Research Consortium, German Climate Consortium, German Marine Research Alliance, and the German National Research Data Infrastructure.
- **Identifiers:** GRID ID: grid.24999.3f; ROR ID: 03qjp1d79; ISNI: 0000000405413699.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the Helmholtz Centre Hereon previously called?
A: Before adopting the name Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon in 2021, the institution was known as the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG) and, earlier, as the GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht. Its original name at its founding in 1956 was Gesellschaft für Kernenergieverwertung in Schiffbau und Schiffahrt.

### Q: Who owns and funds the Helmholtz Centre Hereon?
A: The center is jointly owned by the German federal government and four state governments. The Federal Republic of Germany holds a 70.652% share, while the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Brandenburg hold smaller minority shares.

### Q: What are the main research focus areas of the center?
A: Based on its historical naming conventions, such as "Centre for Materials and Coastal Research," the institution focuses on materials science and coastal research. It is also an active member of the German Marine Research Alliance and the German Climate Consortium.

## Why It Matters
The Helmholtz Centre Hereon serves as a significant node in the German and European scientific landscape, particularly within the Helmholtz Association, one of Germany's largest scientific organizations. Its strategic importance is highlighted by its specific focus on coastal research and materials science, addressing critical challenges related to climate, marine environments, and advanced materials.

The institution plays a pivotal role in national research infrastructure, evidenced by its membership in the German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) and the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM). By bridging federal and state interests—represented by its complex ownership structure involving the national government and four federal states—Hereon facilitates collaborative research that informs policy and technological development in marine and materials sectors.

## Notable For
- **Historical Legacy:** Operating since 1956, originally focused on nuclear energy utilization in shipbuilding (GKSS).
- **Nomenclature Evolution:** Transitioning from nuclear research origins (GKSS) to broader materials and coastal research (HZG) before rebranding to Hereon in 2021.
- **Multi-Governmental Ownership:** Distinguished by a unique ownership model involving the German federal government and four specific federal states (Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Brandenburg).
- **Coastal and Material Expertise:** Identified through aliases and memberships as a central hub for "Materials and Coastal Research."

## Body
### Identity and Naming
The institution is legally known as the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, a name adopted in 2021. Prior to this, it was widely known as the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG) from 2010 to 2021 and GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht before that. Its original founding name in 1956 was *Gesellschaft für Kernenergieverwertung in Schiffbau und Schiffahrt* (Society for the Utilization of Nuclear Energy in Shipbuilding and Shipping). It is often referred to simply as "Hereon" or "HZG."

### Location and Facilities
The headquarters are situated in Geesthacht, in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The precise coordinates are 53.4104° N, 10.4226° E. The facility includes a dedicated library, known as the Library of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht.

### Organizational Structure
Helmholtz Centre Hereon is a limited liability company (GmbH). According to the 2020 Federal Participation Report, the ownership breakdown is as follows:
*   **Federal Republic of Germany:** 70.652%
*   **Schleswig-Holstein:** 2.5%
*   **Hamburg:** 1.25%
*   **Lower Saxony:** 0.625%
*   **Brandenburg:** 0.00625%

It operates under the umbrella of the **Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres**, a major research organization headquartered in Bonn with over 42,000 employees across its various centers.

### Research and Memberships
The center is an active participant in several high-level research consortia. It is a member of the **German Marine Research Consortium** (KDM), the **German Climate Consortium**, and the **German Marine Research Alliance** (DAM). Additionally, it contributes to the **German National Research Data Infrastructure** (NFDI) and is associated with *Informationsdienst Wissenschaft* (Science Information Service). Its research activities are classified under the industry of research.

## References

1. [Beteiligungsbericht des Bundes 2020](https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Content/DE/Downloads/Broschueren_Bestellservice/2021-04-08-beteiligungsbericht-des-bundes-2020.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=10)
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. [Source](https://idw-online.de/de/institution120)
5. [Source](https://www.allianz-meeresforschung.de/ueber-uns/mitglieder/)
6. [Source](https://www.nfdi.de/verein/#mitglieder)
7. [Alexa Internet](https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/hzg.de/index.html)
8. [Source](https://apps.db.ripe.net/search/lookup.html?source=ripe&key=2001:638:71b::/48&type=inet6num)
9. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File