Until 2005, the state governments of Saarland (two thirds) and Rhineland-Palatinate (one third) were the sources of the Center's funding. Initial equipping of the Center was financed by Saarland with backing from European structural aid funds and the German federal construction funding program for institutions of higher learning. Financing is supplemented by donations from various sponsors in industry and the publishing trade. The portion of operational costs which are not covered by participant fees are funded by the Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate state governments.

In January of 2003, the Center was evaluated by the Wissenschaftsrat (German Science Council) and recommended for inclusion as a research service institution in the joint research funding by the federal and state governments (Leibniz Association; cf.recommendation of the German Science Council). Since 1 January 2005, the Center has been a member of the Leibniz Association, in which leading non-university research institutes and scientific service facilities are represented in Germany.

Since 1 January 2006 the Center has been receiving federal and state funding.