Our Founding Story

The construction progresses at full speed

With collective efforts, we are working diligently to complete the construction of the DZA. We are eagerly anticipating the institute's founding by the end of 2025 or early 2026. It all began with a competition…

More about the competition (BMBF Portal)

What We Have Achieved So Far

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© DESY / Paul Glaser
02. October 2024 - Installation of precision optical tables at ALSTOM
With the delivery of two vibration-damped optical tables, future experiments in gravitational wave physics and the development of technologies for detectors for new telescopes can now be carried out.
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© TU Dresden / Stephan Witschas
22. August 2024 - DZA comes to the Kahlbaum site
The DZA campus is coming to the Kahlbaum site in Görlitz and Saxony wants to bring the Einstein Telescope to Lusatia.
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© TU Dresden / Stephan Witschas
26. March 2024 - First scientific DZA congress in Görlitz
The German astronomy and astroparticle physics communities meet to discuss the future of multi-messenger astrophysics and the role the DZA could play in it.
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© Michaela Rehle
04. October 2023 - Cooperation between DZA and Nikhef
The DZA and Nikhef in the Netherlands will work together in the field of scientific research for the Einstein Telescope.
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© DESY / Christian Stegmann
24. - 28. May 2023 - Universe on Tour in Hoyerswerda
The ‘Universe on Tour’ roadshow is touring Germany with a mobile planetarium and will also be stopping off at the town hall.
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© Stadt Hoyerswerda
14. March 2023 - DZA office opens in Hoyerswerda
We are delighted to be opening the DZA office in Hoyerswerda today together with Mayor Torsten Ruban-Zeh.
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© DESY

Since October 2022 – DZA in Dialogue
Görlitz, Kamenz, Bautzen, Hoyerswerda and beyond: We introduce the DZA, establish new networks, and welcome input and support from all sides.
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© SKAO
Since October 2022 – Initiation of scientific partnerships
The DZA participates in scientific meetings, enters into co-operation agreements and launches initial research projects.
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© DESY
29. September 2022 – We made it!
We did it: the DZA is coming to Lusatia in Saxony. We were honoured as one of two winners of the competition.
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© DESY / Paul Glaser
May to September 2022 - DZA on tour
Public events in the region & exchange on the DZA concept
2 May 2022 - Delivery of the concept
May 2022 - completion of test drilling and seismological measurements
We have reached the final drilling depth of 250 meters with the exploratory drilling. Now the seismological measurements can start.
March 2022 - First meeting with Domowina
Meeting with the interest group of the Sorbian people.
March 2022 - First meeting of the DZA industry network.
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© DESY / Paul Glaser
April 2022 - Current drilling depth: 122 meters
The measurements carried out so far confirm the seismic inactivity of the region. From a depth of 104 meters, the Lusatian granodiorite has ideal conditions. The test drillings continue. It remains exciting...
February 2022 - Lecture series "From the Universe to Lusatia
Lecture series (virtual) "From the Universe to Lusatia: Insight into the world of physics and the ideas for the German Center for Astrophysics (DZA).
January 2022 - Inspection of the possible location, the Kahlbaum-Areal in Görlitz, with architects
November 2021 - First meeting of scientific advisory board
November 2021 - Start of the first funding phase
September 2021 - Talks with the mayors of the region
Start of a forward-looking and cooperative partnership.
September 2021 - The DZA office starts work
July 2021 - The first milestone is reached
The Perspective Commission selected the six most convincing proposals and recommended them to the BMBF for the first funding phase; the DZA is one of them. With the funding, we can develop our concept to implementation maturity. We are very pleased.