PIER is the strategic partnership between DESY and Universität Hamburg ("Partnership for Innovation, Education and Research"). PIER focuses on the research and competence fields particle and astroparticle physics, nanosciences, photon science, infection and structural biology, theoretical physics and accelerator research.

Under the umbrella of PIER, DESY and Universität Hamburg jointly run the PIER Helmholtz Graduate School (PHGS), provide funding for cross-institutional research projects and foster an innovation-friendly culture on the Hamburg Bahrenfeld research campus.