The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) is organised in the form or a GmbH (equals “Ltd.”). Shareholders are the Federal Republic of Germany (90%) and the federal states Lower-Saxony (9%) and Saarland (1%).

Representatives from the shareholders are members of the supervisory board – together with experts from universities, clinics, economy, other research institutes and from the HZI itself.

The highest governing body of the HZI meets twice a year, it takes the major policy decisions and appoints the two directors. 

The scientific committee advices the supervisory board.

The middle management of the centre is composed of the heads of academic departments, administrative units and staff units.