Three applications for continued funding and two new project proposals were successful in the highly competitive Excellence Strategy competition. The research topics span the natural sciences, life sciences, and social sciences and were selected thanks to their compelling concepts. The number and scope of the clusters that have been selected to receive funding highlight the strength of Berlin’s research landscape and the active culture of cooperation across its universities and institutions. They will further help to shape the city’s profile as a global research and innovation hub - advancing the shared goals of the Berlin University Alliance, made up of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. With this strong foundation, Germany’s capital remains firmly anchored within the Excellence Strategy and continues to enjoy its reputation on both the national and international stage as a center for cutting-edge research.
"This outcome strengthens our flagship research areas across Berlin’s academic landscape and allows us to launch two new high-impact projects," says Professor Günter M. Ziegler, spokesperson for the Berlin University Alliance and president of Freie Universität Berlin. "At the same time, we see it as a call to refine our shared strategic direction. The competition was intense, and the quality of proposals exceptionally high, which makes the Board of Directors of the Berlin University Alliance all the more grateful to everyone involved for their outstanding dedication. The projects that were ultimately not selected also deserve the highest recognition; they underscore the remarkable breadth and diversity of Berlin’s research community."
Dr. Ina Czyborra, head of the Berlin Senate Department for Higher Education and Research, Health, and Long-Term Care, says, "Berlin remains an important center for scientific innovation and cutting-edge research in Germany. Funding five Clusters of Excellence sends the clear signal that the German capital is a key location for internationally recognized, meaningful research. I congratulate the universities and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin on this success. My sincere thanks go to the researchers involved in all ten original proposals. Their tireless work over the past several years has helped shape Berlin’s future as a hub of research activity. Today marks a milestone in the continued development of the Berlin University Alliance - together, we will continue to advance and strengthen Berlin’s integrated knowledge and innovation landscape."
"The result affirms the value of our work together, especially in times of profound change," says Dr. Alexandra-Gwyn Paetz, Managing Director of the Berlin University Alliance. "It also gives us new momentum with which to deepen our strategic partnerships - both within the alliance and with our partners in Berlin and around the world. Berlin stands for research that matters, and we intend to keep proving that, now and in the future."
The German federal and state governments’ Excellence Strategy is the country’s flagship program for supporting internationally competitive, cutting-edge research. Nationwide, seventy Clusters of Excellence will be receiving a total of 539 million euros for the next funding period. The following five Berlin-based proposals were granted Cluster of Excellence status and will receive funding for the 2026-2032 funding period:
Center for Chiral Electronics (CCE) (new proposal)
Thanks to artificial intelligence and cloud computing, global energy consumption is soaring. To curb this trend, the Center for Chiral Electronics will be studying innovative concepts for greater energy efficiency and ultra-fast electronics.- Applicant universities: Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Freie Universität Berlin, University of Regensburg
- Spokespersons: Georg Woltersdorf (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg), Katharina Franke (Freie Universität Berlin), Christoph Strunk (University of Regensburg)
ImmunoPreCept - research on the interface between health and illness for cell-based molecular prevention and interceptive medicine (new proposal)
Chronic diseases such as immune-mediated inflammation and cancer are on the rise. Present-day therapies are often started too late, and only address the symptoms. Together with the Max Delbrück Center, ImmunoPreCept will research approaches that help keep people healthy and allow for prevention or early therapeutic intervention.- Applicant universities: Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin on behalf of Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
- Spokespersons: Britta Siegmund, Andreas Diefenbach (both Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin), Nikolaus Rajewsky (Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine)
MATH+ - Berlin Mathematics Research Center (application for continued funding)
This Cluster of Excellence develops mathematical methods to analyze complex systems like the climate, the spread of disease, or mobility, thereby helping to identify solutions to key challenges of the future.- Applicant universities: Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin
- Spokespersons: Sebastian Pokutta (Technische Universität Berlin and Zuse Institute Berlin); Andrea Walther (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin); Claudia Schillings (Freie Universität Berlin)
NeuroCure - new approaches to research and treatment for diseases of the nervous system (application for continued funding)
The NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence focuses on neuroscience and aims to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. It studies the pathophysiological processes that can be found in neurological and psychiatric disorders with the aim of developing successful therapies and diagnostic tools.- Applicant universities: Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin on behalf of Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
- Spokespersons: Dietmar Schmitz (Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin)
SCRIPTS - Contestations of the Liberal Script (application for continued funding)
The Contestations of the Liberal Script Cluster of Excellence deals with challenges to the liberal order. From the rising popularity of populist parties to the war in Ukraine, this research subject is highly topical.- Applicant universities: Freie Universität Berlin
- Spokesperson: Tanja Börzel (Freie Universität Berlin)
The Berlin University Alliance
The Berlin University Alliance (BUA) is an alliance comprised of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. These strong academic partners are working together to position Berlin as one of the world’s leading science and innovation hubs, as well as to further develop the research landscape within Berlin. BUA is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the State of Berlin as part of the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments.The Latin words veritas, justitia, and libertas, which frame the seal of Freie Universität Berlin, stand for the values that have defined the academic ethos of Freie Universität since its founding in December 1948.
