Interdisciplinary research institutes
The university's research and education profile is characterized by a strong interdisciplinary approach which manifests itself in numerous interdisciplinary research institutes.
| Heinz Nixdorf Institute (HNI) | since 1987 |
| Paderborn Centre for Parallel Computing (PC2) | since 1990 |
| Musicology Seminar Detmold/Paderborn (MuWi) | since 1991 |
| Paderborn Centre for Educational Research and Teacher Training (PLAZ) | since 1996 |
| Center for Optoelectronics and Photonics Paderborn (CeOPP) | since 2006 |
| Centre for Comparative Theology and Cultural Studies (ZeKK) | since 2009 |
| Competence Centre for Sustainable Energy Technology (KET) | since 2012 |
| Institute for Lightweight Design with Hybrid Systems (ILH) | since 2012 |
| Centre for Gender Studies (ZG) | since 2012 |
| Software Innovation Lab (SI-Lab) | since 2016 |
| Paderborn Institute for Data Science and Scientific Computing (DaSCo) | since 2018 |
| Institute for photonic quantum systems (PhoQS) | since 2018 |
| Paderborn Institute for Additive Fabrication (PIAF) | since 2019 |