As of 2011 the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf is new member of the Helmholtz Association. It is engaged research in those fields that are of great relevance to society such as matter, health, and energy in the following questions:

• How does the material behave under the influence of high fields and in tiny dimensions?
• How can tumour and metabolic disease prematurely be recognized and be medicated effectively?
• How can man and environment be protected from technical ventures?

Thus 5 giant equipments are applied which offer unique testing possibilities for external users as well. The institution for ion beam physics and materials research of the HZDR serves amongst others as national and international competence and user centre for the appliance of ion and plasma techniques in the materials research. The character of the assignments ranges from high-ranking basic research to the industrial appliance.