Two New Research Buildings on the Saarbrücken Campus

Groundbreaking ceremony for the new research building of HIPS

News

09/17/2026

Grand Opening and Groundbreaking Ceremony at HIPS

On September 17, 2026, the grand opening of the first expansion building of the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) took place on the campus of Saarland University. As part of the event, the groundbreaking ceremony for a second expansion building also occurred, with completion planned for 2029. Together with the existing building, the two new buildings are intended to provide space for up to 350 researchers to discover and develop new active ingredients to combat infectious diseases and beyond. The effective area of the two new buildings totals 6,000 m², distributed across laboratory, office, and seminar spaces. The construction projects are being funded with a total of 89.5 million euros, with 20 million provided by the federal government and the remaining funding coming from the state of Saarland and the European Union. The launch of this unprecedented expansion process at a Helmholtz Institute was an expansion resolution passed by the Budget Committee of the Bundestag in December 2020. HIPS is a site of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in collaboration with Saarland University.

Prof. Rolf Müller, Scientific Director HIPS

"With the two new buildings, HIPS is charting a future-oriented course for drug discovery research at the Saarbrücken site. The funding approved by the federal government and state at the end of 2020 was the catalyst for the institutional and spatial expansion of the institute. The completion of the first and the cornerstone laying of the second new building now represent important milestones in its further development. Over the past five years, HIPS has invested primarily in biotechnology, bioinformatics, and microbiota research and has grown to almost 300 employees. We were able to realize the first building in modular construction within just 22 months, thus providing the urgently needed space for our newly appointed professors and their teams in a timely manner. The second expansion building will significantly expand the existing research facilities and also provide us with important space for new activities that were not feasible with our previous capacity. For example, the new building offers us the opportunity to share HIPS research even more actively with society through citizen science spaces and a student laboratory."

Anke Rehlinger, Minister-President of the State of Saarland

“HIPS is a flagship for the Saarland research location. Here, brilliant minds from all over the world work on new active ingredients and medicines, thereby conducting research work that has significance far beyond our state. The new building demonstrates how successfully the institute is developing and what perspectives it has here in Saarland. By providing the best conditions for top-level research, we strengthen not only HIPS but the scientific location Saarland as a whole. We can take pride in this achievement.”

Grand opening of the new research building of HIPS

Prof. Veronika von Messling, Director General Health and Life Sciences Division, Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)

"The new building at HIPS in Saarbrücken is a milestone for German infection and active ingredient research. Given the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and emerging infectious diseases, the institute's work is of central importance. Here, not only innovative solutions are being developed, but also a global contribution to combating infectious diseases is being made. The BMFTR supports HIPS and its research out of conviction, because it is of fundamental importance for all our health."

Prof. Ludger Santen, President of Saarland University

“HIPS is an important partner for Saarland University in active ingredient research and beyond. With the opening of the first and the cornerstone laying of the second expansion building, this partnership grows further – in line with our research focus BioMed. We combine the close cooperation between HIPS and UdS in the PharmaScienceHub, our joint umbrella structure for translational active ingredient research. There we combine the expertise of both institutions and create the conditions to consistently develop research results from basic research through to application. The new buildings provide additional space for this cooperation. I am pleased that we can continue to expand this model jointly with HIPS.”

Prof. Josef Penninger, Scientific Director HZI

“HIPS is an internationally outstanding research location for active ingredient development and research on antimicrobial resistance and new anti-infectives. Together with Saarland University in direct proximity, HIPS forms a forward-looking ecosystem in which excellent scientific expertise, innovative technologies, and pioneering AI-supported approaches come together in a special way. With the two spatial expansions, this special environment can continue to grow at the highest level, and world-class research at HIPS can unfold its impact even more strongly. We are very proud to have HIPS as an indispensable member of the HZI family at our side and are confident in our progress toward our shared goal of achieving world-leading infection research. We extend our warmest congratulations to all colleagues in Saarbrücken on reaching these special milestones and wish them much success for the steps ahead.”