Saarland Informatics Campus
Saarland Informatics Campus is a center for computer science located on the Saarbrücken campus of Saarland University, a public university in Saarland, Germany. It integrates multiple research institutions and three departments of Saarland University: Department of Computer Science, Department of Mathematics, and Department of Language Science and Technology.
Academic profile
Research
SIC focuses on research across 16 fields: Algebra, Algorithms, Applied Analysis, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Computational Biology and Life Sciences, Computational Linguistics, Data Science, Didactics of Computers Science and Mathematics, Formal Methods, Human-Computer Interaction, Mathematical Data Analysis, Numerical Mathematics, Security and Cryptography, Software and Hardware Systems, Stochastics, Visual and Geometric Computing.SIC participates in Germany's excellence initiative. As a participant, it received a Cluster of Excellence "Multimodal Computing and Interaction" and a Graduate School of Computer Science in 2007. SIC is involved in many multi-institutional projects, some of which include:
- Collaborative Research Center Transregio 248: Foundations of Perspicuous Software Systems, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG);
- CRC 1102: Information Density and Linguistic Encoding, funded by the DFG;
- CRC TRR-195: Symbolic Tools in Mathematics and their Applications, funded by the DFG;
- RTG: Neuroexplicit Models of Language, Vision, and Action, funded by the DFG;
- Information Density and Linguistic Encoding, funded by the DFG;
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Societal Computing ;
- Explainable Intelligent Systems, funded by Volkswagen Foundation;
- ELLIS Unit Saarbrücken AI & Machine Learning "SAM";
- Centre for European Research in Trusted AI, funded by European Regional Development Fund;
- Zuse School ELIZA.
Research institutes
The following research institutions are included in the SIC:- German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence,
- Leibniz Center for Informatics at Schloss Dagstuhl,
- Max Planck Institute for Informatics,
- Center for Bioinformatics,
- Max Planck Institute for Software Systems,
- CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security.
Grants and awards
SIC researchers have been awarded:- 46 ERC Grants
- * 19 ERC Starting Grants
- * 8 ERC Consolidator Grants
- * 11 ERC Advanced Grants
- * 2 ERC Synergy Grants
- * 6 ERC Proof of Concept Grants
- 6 Konrad Zuse Medals
- 9 ACM Fellowships
- 7 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prizes
- 1 Deutscher Zukunftspreis des Bundespräsidenten
- 5 Beckurts Prizes
Study programs
As of SS 2025, SIC offers 24 study programs that are hosted by Saarland University in collaboration with the research institutes on campus.Bachelor's degree programs
Bioinformatics, Business Informatics, Computer Science, Computer Science, Computational Linguistics, Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Embedded Systems, Mathematics and Computer Science, Media Informatics.Master's degree programs
Bioinformatics, Business Informatics, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Embedded Systems, Entrepreneurial Cybersecurity, Language Science and Technology, Mathematics and Computer Science, Media Informatics, Visual Computing, Language and Communication Technologies.State examination (teaching credential)
- Computer Science Teacher Education: Secondary Level I, Secondary Level II, teaching at vocational schools
PhD programs
- Saarbrücken Graduate School of Computer Science
- * Max Planck Graduate Center for Computer and Information Science
- * International Max Planck Research School on Trustworthy Computing
Industry relations and innovation
Industry relations
The SIC has partnered with companies such as Google, Volkswagen, BMW, Intel, Nvidia, Samsung, IBM, Microsoft, Bosch, Airbus, Adobe, Adidas, Deutsche Post, EADS, and Siemens.- In 2019, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, a global automotive supplier, partnered with DFKI and CISPA to start a new center for artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, ZF AI and Cybersecurity Center.
- The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), Germany's federal branch for cybersecurity, has been operating a branch on campus since 2021, primarily focusing on AI system security and safe digitalization.VIA Saarbrücken Research Center for Visual Computing Interaction and AI was established on the SIC in 2022 through a partnership between Google and the Max Planck Institute for Informatics. The center focuses on computer graphics, computer vision, human-machine interaction, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
- Between 2009 and 2019, the Intel Visual Computing Institute was located on SIC. The institute's focus was visual computing.
Innovation
Saarland University participates in the German EXIST initiative, which provides funding and support for scientists establishing startups based on research. In 2023, the university started a specialized initiative called Triathlon, which supports innovation, student entrepreneurship, and technology transfer through services including start-up coaching, financial support, skill workshops, and intellectual property assistance.Rankings
In the QS World University Rankings of 2024, Saarland University was ranked 600th globally and 35th in Germany, and also ranked in the 251-300 range in the field of Computer Science and Information Systems. In the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2024, it was ranked in the 401-500 range globally and 30-35 in Germany.In the CWTS Leiden Ranking 2024, Saarland University was ranked 36th in Germany in Mathematics and Computer Science in terms of scientific impact, which is based on the total number of publications and citation percentage of publications.
In the CHE University Ranking of 2024, the computer science department was ranked second in Germany in terms of courses offered. In the funding report of the DFG of 2024, which consists of grants between 2020 and 2022, Saarland University ranked 25th in Germany in the field of engineering, where computer science is one of the strongest disciplines.
Other CHE University rankings include:
- CHE University Ranking 2024,
- CHE University Ranking 2023 for Business Informatics,
- CHE University Ranking 2021,
- CHE Master's Ranking 2021,
- DFG Funding Ranking 2021.
Internationality
Saarland University partners with 550 higher education institutions in 52 countries around the world. As of Winter Semester 24/25, 3739 international students study at the university, corresponding to around 23% of all students, which is higher than the national 16% average. Approximately, 23% of the research assistants and 7% of the professors in the university come from abroad.As of Winter Semester 24/25, 2,633 students are enrolled at the Saarland Informatics Campus, with 737 female students and 1,291 international students.