Clusters of Excellence

Clusters of Excellence represent one of the most successful cross-institutional research formats in Berlin, uniting scholars from diverse fields to work collaboratively on forward-looking topics. Initiated through the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments, these Clusters are designed to support interdisciplinary, long-term research at the highest level. Since the first competition phase in 2007, Berlin-based institutions have consistently been among the leading recipients of Clusters of Excellence funding. In the next and newest phase of the Clusters of Excellence, Berlin is proud to be home to Clusters of Excellence spanning electronics, molecular biology, mathematics, life sciences and the political and social sciences. These clusters, consisting of NeuroCure, Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS), Center for Chiral Electronics (CCE), ImmunoPreCept and MATH+, involve at least two Berlin University Alliance institutions and numerous civil society research partners. Each project receives up to ten million euros annually, reflecting the strategic impact and academic excellence these major projects bring to the Berlin University Alliance and beyond.

Berlin Quantum

This joint initiative coordinated by BUA, Humboldt-Innovation GmbH, OpTecBB e.V. and Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH aims to make Berlin an international hotspot for the research and development of quantum technologies. Berlin Quantum pursues an interdisciplinary and cross-sector vision and is deeply committed to cooperation across science, business and the start-up scene, having recently launched Leap, an innovation hub and co-working space for quantum technologies, as a platform for dialogue, networking and collaboration between these players. The initiative offers a diverse array of ongoing calls and programs, ranging from fellowships to start-up incubation to knowledge exchange formats and much more.

BIFOLD – A National Center for Artificial Intelligence

The Berlin Institute for the Foundations of Learning and Data (BIFOLD) is a national research center funded by both the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the State of Berlin. BIFOLD's research addresses core questions in machine learning and data management, emphasizing transparency, reproducibility and interdisciplinary innovation. Based at Technische Universität Berlin and partnered with Charité, BIFOLD unites over 150 researchers across 12 research groups and actively collaborates with Berlin’s major universities and international partners. Alongside scientific excellence, the institute is deeply committed to promoting gender equality, diversity and good research practices—values that are essential to shaping a modern, inclusive research environment.

Einstein Centers

Founded by the State of Berlin, the Einstein Foundation promotes international research in and for Berlin and the BUA institutions benefit significantly from this initiative and its various funding lines, in particular from the Foundation's Einstein Centers.

The Einstein Centers complement the Berlin University Alliance’s efforts by enabling cross-institutional, interdisciplinary collaborations that serve as incubators for innovative, internationally visible research. They support a wide range of goals—from advancing early career development to building platforms for science communication and collaboration with industry and society. The Einstein Center 3R focuses on human tissue models as alternatives to animal testing, while the Einstein Center Digital Future brings together academia, industry and government to explore the societal impacts of digitalization. The Einstein Center Population Diversity and the Einstein Center Mathematics tackle the pressing challenges of changing demographics for healthcare and application-oriented mathematics, respectively, contributing to the interdisciplinary and cross-sector research scene of Berlin.

Alliance Center Electron Microscopy

The Alliance Center Electron Microscopy (ACEM) is a cross-institutional platform of the Berlin University Alliance that unites expertise, infrastructure and innovation in the field of electron microscopy across its four member institutions. It is interdisciplinary and connects the different - usually separated - areas of electron microscopy (physics/material sciences and life sciences), thus making a unique spectrum of renowned expertise, high-end instrumentation and innovative methods available for its users based on easy and equal opportunity access. ACEM fosters collaboration among researchers by standardizing access to advanced microscopy technologies and supporting method development across disciplines. Open to all scientists affiliated with Berlin University Alliance, the center connects core facilities and microscope operators to enhance cooperation and to support researchers. ACEM users benefit from shared resources and expert support, including comprehensive services and training.

Discover more about Berlin's integrated research environment