In the coming years, a research campus will be built in St. Ingbert, bringing together the multiple CISPA locations that have so far been dispersed across Saarland. With a floor space of approximately 28,000 square meters, the new building is specifically designed to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, modern research infrastructure, and future growth. This allows CISPA to grow from currently 725 to more than 1,000 employees.
Since its founding, CISPA has developed into a world-leading research center in the fields of cybersecurity and trustworthy artificial intelligence. Last year, an international panel of experts rated the center’s research performance as outstanding across all areas, confirming its position as a global leader. The new campus provides the infrastructure needed to further strengthen this position.
The state of Saarland is providing up to 350 million euros from the Transformation Fund for the construction of the research campus. The planned six-story ring-shaped building will create a research hub that is designed to foster exchange and collaboration. A central entrance and meeting area—the “Green Forum”—connects the building to publicly accessible green spaces and recreational areas. In this way, the campus will not only serve as a workplace for researchers but also as an open meeting place for the urban community as well as the region.
With the laying of the foundation stone, work is now beginning on a project that will have an impact far beyond the region and make an important contribution to Saarland’s competitiveness. The campus is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028.
Quotes:
CISPA CEO and Founding Director Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Michael Backes
“The foundation stone marks a milestone for CISPA, Saarland, and Germany. It represents 15 years of development work that began without secure funding or envisaged continuation—driven by the conviction that excellent research in cybersecurity and trustworthy AI needs a home of its own. The fact that this project is becoming a reality today is also thanks to the courage and farsightedness of the Saarland state government in investing in this vision early on and thereby strengthening the region’s international standing.”
Minister-President Anke Rehlinger
“With the CISPA campus in St. Ingbert, we are creating a beacon for cutting-edge research and innovation in Saarland. We are making a targeted investment in our state’s future in order to attract international talent, create high-quality jobs, and actively shape structural change. CISPA is a key component in positioning the Saarland as a strong hub for science and technology in Europe. In doing so, we are not only laying a foundation stone here today, but also setting a digital milestone.”
Mayor of St. Ingbert Prof. Dr. Ulli Meyer
“CISPA is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for St. Ingbert. Today, we are laying the foundation stone not only for a building, but for the future of our city and the entire region. The fact that we have moved this project forward so quickly—from approval to this point—shows what is possible when all stakeholders work together closely, in a solution-oriented manner, and with a shared goal. Especially in times of structural change, we need these kinds of projects: They create opportunities, bring innovation to St. Ingbert, and strengthen Saarland as a leading hub for cybersecurity and research. My thanks go to all who have made this possible with such dedication.”
Nikolas Gross, Managing Partner Peter Gross Bau
“The laying of the foundation stone marks the start of our efforts to develop a state-of-the-art facility for CISPA that will give long-term impetus to the city and the region. With this new center, we are combining our traditional industrial expertise with CISPA’s cutting-edge technologies at an international level—creating sustainable momentum for the city and the region.”
