In Garching, IPP is conducting the tokamak ASDEX Upgrade, Germany's largest fusion device. The Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, successor of Wendelstein 7-AS (Garching, till July 2002 ) is being built at the Greifswald Branch Institute of IPP.
Nine Scientific Divisions in Garching and Greifswald are investigating the confinement of high-temperature hydrogen plasmas in magnetic fields, heating of plasmas, plasma diagnostics, magnetic field technology, data acquisition and processing, plasma theory, materials research, plasma-wall interaction and systems studies.
Furthermore, in Garching IPP hosts the European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA) Close Support Unit, the European reactor study group.