Its extensive research and development work is integrated into national and international co-operative ventures. In addition to its own research, the German federal government has assigned DLR as Germany’s space agency responsibility for the forward planning and implementation of the German space programme as well as for the international representation of German interests. Moreover, DLR functions as an umbrella organisation for Germany’s largest project sponsor.
Approximately 6,000 people are employed in DLR´s 28 institutes and facilities at thirteen locations in Germany: Koeln-Porz (headquarters), Berlin-Adlershof, Bonn-Oberkassel, Braunschweig, Bremen, Göttingen, Hamburg, Lampoldshausen, Neustrelitz, Oberpfaffenhofen, Stuttgart, Trauen and Weilheim. DLR also operates offices in Brussels, Paris, and Washington, D.C.
DLR’s mission comprises the exploration of the Earth and the Solar System, research for environmental protection and environmentally compatible technologies, and for promoting mobility, communication, and security. In its business areas of Aeronautics, Space Travel, Transportation und Energy, DLR’s research portfolio ranges from basic research to innovative applications and cutting-edge products. The scientific and technical know-how gained at DLR thus contributes to enhancing Germany’s industrial and technological reputation. DLR operates large-scale research facilities for its own projects and as a service for its clients and partners.  It also supports young scientists, provides competent advisory services to government, and is a driving force in the local regions that are home to its field centres.

• The DLR Institute for Propulsion Technology with approximately 120 employees is headquartered at the DLR location Koeln-Porz. The main focus of the institute’s research and development activities is on the further development of aeroplane engines with regard to their efficiency, weight, pollutant and noise emissions. Due to the very similar technologies, the institute’s core competencies are also employed to further develop stationary gas turbines, stationary axial and radial compressors, steam turbines, superchargers and other energy transformers and continuous flow devices. Among the core competencies of propulsion research is the development of numeric methods for gas turbine flows. The TRACE method developed at the institute has been in use for some time in gas turbine research and industry and holds a leading position in the field of turbomachinery CFD methods worldwide.
  
  Contact
  Dr.-Ing. Edmund Kügeler
  DLR-Institut für Antriebstechnik
  Abteilung Numerische Methoden
  Tel.: +49 (2203) 601-3248
  Fax: +49 (2203) 601-64392
  E-mail: Edmund.Kuegeler@dlr.de
  WWW: http://www.dlr.de/at

• The DLR facility Simulation and Software Technology employs approximately 25 members of staff at the DLR locations Braunschweig, Koeln-Porz, and Berlin-Adlershof; its competence is in the field of software engineering. Key areas of its research are grid computing and distributed systems, software integration technology, scientific data management and software quality assurance. In the field of grid computing, the institute is involved in the D-Grid projects C3-Grid, DGI and PartnerGrid and in the EU projects PROVENANCE and BEinGRID. In the Global Grid Forum the facility participates in the "Firewall Issues Research Group".
  
  Contact
  Andreas Schreiber
  DLR Simulations- und Softwaretechnik
  Abteilung Verteilte Systeme und Komponentensoftware
  Tel.: +49 (2203) 601-2485
  Fax: +49 (2203) 601-3070
  E-mail: Andreas.Schreiber@dlr.de
  WWW: http://www.dlr.de/sc