HZG (Germany)

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Zentrum für Material- und Küstenforschung GmbH (HZG) is one of 18 members of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres. HZG is located in Geesthacht near Hamburg with branches in Teltow near Berlin and in Hamburg, with a total staff of approximately 850 employees, including about 600 scientists, engineers and technicians.

The main HZG research areas cover materials science with foci on advanced engineering materials, research with neutrons and synchrotron radiation and regenerative medicine, as well as environmental research focussing on marine, coastal and polar systems. Within coastal research a major platform is COSYNA (Coastal Observing System for Northern and Arctic Seas) an operational coastal monitoring, forecasting and information system for the North Sea. The main topic of COSYNA is the development and application of “integrated monitoring strategies” which include in-situ measurements, satellite remote sensing and numerical modelling.

HZG has gained experience for years and has cultivated a successful tradition in both the co-ordination of and participation in different types of EU projects. Since the year 2000, researchers at HZG have coordinated some 30, and have participated in more than 110 EU projects co-financed by the European Commission through FP5, FP6 and FP7 priority programmes.

HZG will bring to NeXOS its expertise in the following activities:

  1. Sensor developments for: quantification of the carbon budget (pH, alkalinity...), and for algal determination.
  2. Platforms for testing new sensors (Ferrybox, fixed stations, piles, gliders).