Jena, October 06, 2026 – The new Microverse Center was officially inaugurated on the Beutenberg-Campus in Jena on Monday. The modern research building now serves as the scientific core and hub for the DFG Cluster of Excellence ‘Balance of the Microverse’ at the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena.
- Event: Official opening of the Microverse Center Jena
- Location: Beutenberg-Campus, Jena
- Total investment: 55.6 million euros
- Capacity: Approximately 5,000 square meters for about 200 employees and guests
The focus of the scientific work is on microbial communities, which are invisible to the naked eye but significantly influence our entire environment and health. To decode the complex communication and interaction of these organisms, the new center brings together various disciplines such as microbiology, chemistry, physics, and computer science under one roof.
Collaboration beyond the labs
The building’s architecture is specifically designed for interdisciplinary exchange. In addition to modern, shared laboratories, spacious meeting areas and a rooftop terrace encourage professional dialogue. This is intended to help develop new approaches to understanding microorganisms – for example, in groundwater or the human body. In the long term, the research aims to purposefully influence microbial communities for the benefit of the environment and health.
Technical data and financing
The new building on the Beutenberg is characterized by modern construction and precise planning. Following a planning phase from November 2020 to November 2023 and a construction period from May 2022 to September 2025, the project was successfully completed. Financing was provided by federal funds, the state of Thüringen, and the university’s own resources:
- Gross floor area (GFA): 11,110 m²
- Gross building volume (GBV): 50,654 m³
- Construction method: Sustainable timber-hybrid construction with cross-laminated timber and wooden facade
- Free State of Thüringen: 27.8 million euros
- Federal Government: 20.6 million euros
- Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena: 7.2 million euros
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Background: Jena as a science hub
Jena looks back on centuries of academic tradition and has developed in recent years into a leading national and international location for high-tech, optics, and life sciences. The awarding of the ‘University of Excellence’ status to the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena underscores the city’s outstanding position in the German research landscape. Facilities such as the Microverse Center in Jena sustainably strengthen this status by networking basic research with modern infrastructure.
Source:
New research center in Jena: How microbes hold our world together
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.