New groups of academic excellence emerge in the heartland of Germany
In a significant decision within the framework of the Excellence Strategy, the German Research Foundation (DFG) has allocated funds for excellence clusters, with financing set to commence in 2026 and continuing through 2032. Each of these clusters will receive an annual sum of between €3 million and €10 million, with a substantial portion coming from federal funds.
Holger Mann, deputy spokesperson for research, technology, and aerospace of the SPD parliamentary group and Saxon regional group spokesperson, expressed his enthusiasm about the development. Universities and research associations in the former East German states have managed to bridge the gap with their western counterparts, successfully securing nine new clusters, a significant increase from the previous four. Central Germany will now benefit from this expansion, particularly Saxony and Thuringia, which have demonstrated a growing scientific prowess.
From a Saxon perspective, Dresden solidifies its position as a hub for research-intensive, technology-oriented excellence with five clusters. Leipzig and Halle make their debut in the excellence cluster arena with successful applications. Thuringia also celebrates double victories with strong applications from Jena, ensuring all three universities in the university association have secured funding.
However, the success of these applications does not always correlate with size or existing networks. Berlin, for instance, has seen several clusters lose funding, a testament to the/selected process being science-driven, rather than purely based on size or connections.
Mann extended his congratulations to the funded universities and research associations, along with their hundreds of participating scientists and researchers. These institutions have emerged victorious from a lengthy, rigorous selection process and can now conduct world-class research, contributing significantly to their respective regions' competitiveness.
The current funding period (2019-2025) sees a total of 57 excellence clusters being financed, amounting to €385 million annually. The decision announced today concerns funding for 2026 to 2032, with up to 70 clusters receiving funds totaling €539 million in a science-driven procedure.
In Saxony, the Center for Elevating Biology in Space and Earth (CELSIUS) at TU Dresden will focus on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of biology, space sciences, and earth sciences, with the aim of understanding life processes in extreme environments. The Cluster on Integrated Quantum Systems (IQS) at TU Dresden will delve into cutting-edge research on quantum technologies, encompassing quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum materials.
Meanwhile, in Thuringia, the Center for Advanced Energy Materials and Technologies (CAEMT) at Friedrich Schiller University Jena will focus on developing sustainable and efficient energy materials and technologies to address climate change and energy transition challenges. The Cluster for Cognition, Communication, and Neural Systems (CoCoNeS) at University of Erfurt and Friedrich Schiller University Jena will carry out interdisciplinary research in neuroscience, cognitive science, and communication studies to shed light on brain functions and communication mechanisms.
These clusters underscore Germany’s commitment to fostering innovation and international scientific leadership through interdisciplinary and frontier research.
Science-driven decisions have led to the selection of new excellence clusters in Germany, with a significant increase from the previous four. These clusters, including the Center for Elevating Biology in Space and Earth (CELSIUS) and the Cluster on Integrated Quantum Systems (IQS) in Saxony, and the Center for Advanced Energy Materials and Technologies (CAEMT) and the Cluster for Cognition, Communication, and Neural Systems (CoCoNeS) in Thuringia, have emerged as a result of rigorous online-education and learning processes. Education-and-self-development in these areas will continue as these clusters conduct world-class research, contributing significantly to their respective regions' competitiveness.
