Three continuation applications and two new applications took top marks in the highly competitive procedure for their impressive concepts. They range from physical and life sciences to social sciences. The selected clusters are a testimonial to Berlin’s strong research ecosystem and to the vibrant culture of cooperation among the institutions located here. They will further raise the city’s profile as a shared knowledge and innovation space, thereby also contributing to the goals of the Berlin network of excellence, consisting of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. With this as a foundation, the German capital remains a key locus of support and funding for excellence and will retain its prominent position, both within Germany and internationally, as a hub of top-tier research.

“This result will strengthen top-tier research flagships in all our high-profile areas within the Berlin academic and research scene and allow us to launch two new flagship projects,” says Prof. Günter M. Ziegler, spokesperson for the Berlin University Alliance and president of Freie Universität Berlin. “At the same time, we also view it as a call to action in further dialing in our shared strategic direction. The competition was intense, and the quality of the applications submitted was exceptional, so the Board of Directors of the Berlin University Alliance is especially grateful to all of the colleagues involved for their impressive commitment and involvement. The projects that did not end up being approved also deserve the utmost respect, as they vividly illustrate the diversity of the Berlin research landscape.”

Dr. Ina Czyborra, head of the Berlin Senate Department for Higher Education and Research, Health and Long-Term Care, comments: “Berlin is and will remain a central location of scientific and academic innovation and cutting-edge research in Germany. The funding of five clusters of excellence shows that the German capital is synonymous with internationally visible excellence in research. I’d like to congratulate the universities and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin on this success. A big thank you goes out to all the scientists and researchers involved in all ten of the applications, who have worked hard in recent years for Berlin’s future as a hub of research activity. The cornerstone for the continuation of the Berlin University Alliance as a network of excellence was laid today, and together, we will now forge ahead to strengthen and further develop our integrated knowledge and innovation space.”

“The result affirms the value of our work together, especially amid the deep-seated changes we are experiencing today,” explains Dr. Alexandra-Gwyn Paetz, Managing Director of the Berlin University Alliance. “It also provides fresh impetus to further develop our collaboration within the alliance and with our partners in Berlin and around the world in strategic terms. Berlin stands for the relevance of top-notch science and research, and we plan to prove it now and into the future.”

The Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments is the central program aimed at funding and supporting internationally competitive cutting-edge research in Germany. Across the country, the program is now providing about 539 million euros in funding to 70 clusters each year. Berlin’s universities acquired the following five clusters in this highly competitive procedure:

Center for Chiral Electronics (CCE) (new application)

Artificial intelligence and cloud computing are behind surging energy consumption all over the world. To curb this trend, the Center for Chiral Electronics studies innovative concepts for greater energy efficiency and ultra-fast electronics.

• Applicant institutions: Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Freie Universität Berlin, University of Regensburg
• Spokespersons: Prof. Georg Woltersdorf (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg), Prof. Katharina Franke (Freie Universität Berlin), Prof. Christoph Strunk (University of Regensburg)

ImmunoPreCept – research on the interface between health and illness for cell-based molecular prevention and interceptive medicine (new application)

Chronic diseases such as immune-mediated inflammation and cancer are on the rise. Present-day therapies are often started too late, and they only address the symptoms. ImmunoPreCept, with the participation of the Max Delbrück Center, is researching approaches to help keep people healthy and permit prevention or early therapeutic intervention.

• Applicant institutions: Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin on behalf of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Spokespersons: Prof. Britta Siegmund, Prof. Andreas Diefenbach (both Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin), Prof. Nikolaus Rajewsky (Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine)

MATH+ – Berlin Mathematics Research Center (continuation application)

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 institutions: Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin
• Spokespersons: Prof. Sebastian Pokutta (Technische Universität Berlin and Zuse Institute Berlin); Prof. Andrea Walther (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin); Prof. Claudia Schillings (Freie Universität Berlin)

NeuroCure – new approaches to research and treatment for diseases of the nervous system (continuation application)

The NeuroCure cluster, which focuses on neurosciences, aims to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice. It studies diseases across the entire lifespan, from embryonic development to advanced age.

• Applicant institutions: Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin on behalf of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Spokespersons: Prof. Dietmar Schmitz (Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin)

SCRIPTS – Contestations of the Liberal Script (continuation application)

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 institution: Freie Universität Berlin
• Spokesperson: Prof. Tanja Börzel (Freie Universität Berlin)

The Berlin University Alliance

The Berlin University Alliance – the alliance of excellence between Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin – is positioning Berlin as one of the world’s leading knowledge and innovation hubs for integrated collaboration across disciplines and sectors of society. Together, this ecosystem contributes to the sustainable success of major transformations. The Berlin University Alliance is funded by the 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.

Further information

• on the Clusters of Excellence within Berlin University Alliance: https://www.berlin-university-alliance.de/en/excellence-strategy/clusters-of-excellence/index.html 

Media contact

• Suhana Reddy, Head of Communication, Berlin University Alliance, email: suhana.reddy@berlin-university-alliance.de