February 2, 2024. The German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Council of Science and Humanities have nominated five new cluster proposals from Saxon universities for the final round of the current Excellence Competition. These include two proposals from Leipzig University and three from TU Dresden. Both universities have thus reached an important milestone.
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They are now invited to submit so-called full proposals, i.e. fully developed concepts for the research projects. TU Dresden can also prepare three possible follow-up applications for Clusters of Excellence that are already being funded.
The concepts behind the cluster applications will be evaluated by a high-ranking scientific committee at the end of 2024/beginning of 2025. A decision will then be made on which Clusters of Excellence will be funded over the seven-year funding period from 2026 to 2032.
“It is an exceptionally great success that two of our universities have now reached the final round in the competition for Clusters of Excellence. Measured against the overall selection by the German Research Foundation, Saxony has an above-average representation in the final round. This is a great day for Saxon science and shows that excellent researchers have their home in Saxony. But it also shows that the support of the Free State of Saxony for our universities and scientific institutions is correct and, above all, justified. Congratulations to all the winners!”
The research cluster projects that have now been selected for the final round of the Excellence Competition include:
In addition to the new applications, TU Dresden’s existing Clusters of Excellence from the current Excellence funding period must also be confirmed so that they can further develop and consolidate their projects in a second funding phase. These include:
1. ct.qmat – Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter
2. Ce.TI – Center for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop
3. Physics of Life – The Dynamic Organization of Living Matter
In 2016, an agreement was reached between the federal and state governments to support top-level research at German universities on a permanent basis with a new funding programme. The main objective is to sustainably strengthen Germany as a location for science in international competition and make it more visible internationally. The funding is aimed at facilitating top scientific achievements, sharpening the profiles of universities and encouraging even stronger networking and cooperation within the scientific system. The Excellence Strategy thus combines the promotion of top-level research with long-term and strategic investments in the higher education system.
The Excellence Strategy comprises two funding lines… the “Clusters of Excellence” and the “Universities of Excellence”.
The Clusters of Excellence and Universities of Excellence are selected on the basis of science-led selection procedures. These procedures are carried out by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Council of Science and Humanities on behalf of the federal and state governments.
The final decision on which clusters will be funded from January 1, 2026 will be made by the Excellence Commission in May 2025. It consists of the scientists on the expert panel and the federal and state ministers and senators responsible for science. In particular, funding of 539 million euros per year will be made available for up to 70 Clusters of Excellence throughout Germany from the second funding period onwards in order to strengthen the competitive area. From 2026, a total of 687 million euros per year will therefore be available in the Excellence Strategy. 75% of the funds will be provided by the federal government and 25% by the respective host state of the Cluster of Excellence or University of Excellence.
In November 2025, universities that have acquired at least two clusters of excellence can apply for the University of Excellence funding line. A decision on the award of this funding as a University of Excellence will be made in 2026. Around 148 million euros are available annually for up to fifteen Universities of Excellence or Excellence Alliances, with additional funds being made available for the funding of up to four new additional Universities of Excellence. In Saxony, TU Dresden is currently being funded as a University of Excellence.
The TU Dresden was already successful in the previous joint Excellence Initiative of the federal and state governments and was awarded the title of University of Excellence in 2012. Since 2019, the TU Dresden has been permanently funded as a University of Excellence in the current, indefinite agreement on the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments. As a University of Excellence, TU Dresden will be evaluated by an independent and external panel of experts in the coming year 2025.
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Photo: TUD/Michael Kretzschmar
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