Germany

EBRAINS Germany, the German National Node of the EBRAINS digital research infrastructure for neuroscience, brings together strong expertise in computational neuroscience, clinical research, and computer science. Formally established in December 2023, it marks a significant milestone in advancing collaborative research efforts in Europe. The institutions and researchers of EBRAINS Germany offer unique services, including science liaison activities for neuroscience, medical applications, and industry in the fields of:

• High-Performance Computing  

• Neuromorphic Computing  

• Artificial Intelligence  

• Simulation  

• Robotics  

• Information privacy and security  

Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) provides, for example, the world’s most comprehensive atlas of the human brain in 3D as well as IT tools for modeling, simulation and AI-based analysis of large and complex data sets. FZJ also provides access to powerful supercomputing facilities and coordinates a network of supercomputing centres across Europe. The world’s largest analogue neuromorphic computing systems, BrainScaleS, built by Heidelberg University is accessible through the EBRAINS RI, enabling collaborative research. Charité Berlin, one of Europe’s largest university hospitals, provides GDPR compliant services such as the Health Data Cloud to enable the processing of human digital twins and co-leads The Virtual Brain platform that enables patient specific brain simulation on EBRAINS. As a partner in EBRAINS Germany, HITS contributes to the development of computational modeling tools for multiscale simulation of molecular signaling cascades that are altered in brain diseases.

Advances in the treatment of mental illness require a deep understanding of brain function and its disorders. In this area, partner ZI Mannheim has built up large data sets and expertise in analysis and modelling, which is contributed to EBRAINS. The in-depth collaboration between ZI Mannheim and other excellent partner institutions within the German Centre for Mental Health (Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit (DZP)) will further increase the effectiveness of EBRAINS and the associated network. Researchers in the Bernstein Network aim to understand computation in the brain and neural networks, from the molecular level to behaviour. Such interdisciplinary endeavours require an adequate Research Infrastructure. Complementing to the provisioning of Tools and Services the Bernstein Network as a partner in EBRAINS Germany communicates the requirements of the computational neuroscience community and thus actively shapes the EBRAINS RI development.

The members of EBRAINS Germany actively shape the future development of EBRAINS services according to the specific needs of the German research communities.  National and international interdisciplinary networking is being strengthened and new opportunities for collaboration within the consortium arise from participation in different committees and working groups dedicated to specific scientific and technological topics. If you are interested in joining one of our working groups please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

EBRAINS Germany is coordinated by FZJ, one of the largest interdisciplinary science  centres in Europe using cutting-edge technologies in the fields of  energy, information and bioeconomy using a unique infrastructure of  large-scale equipment - from supercomputers and neutron sources to  high-resolution electron microscopes. 

Do you have any questions about the German Node? Please submit your question and email address below.