German Excellence Initiative
German Excellence Initiative - a funding program for cutting-edge research
漏 ThomasVogel / iStock.com
The Excellence Initiative was a funding program aimed at promoting cutting-edge research in Germany between 2005 and 2017.
Updated: 2025-05-06
What is the German Excellence Initiative?
The German Universities Excellence Initiative (Exzellenzinitiative) was launched in 2005, following negotiations between the federal government and German states. It was designed to strengthen research at German universities and enhance their global appeal. Since its introduction, it has been one of the key factors in attracting international scientists to pursue careers at German universities.
During the first funding phase (2006-2011), 鈧�1.9bn was made available to scientists through the Excellence Initiative; during the second funding phase (2012-2017) the funds increased to 鈧�2.7bn.
The Excellence Initiative received a great deal of attention in academia and the media, both in Germany and internationally. It has been referred to as 鈥榯he German Ivy League鈥�.
Why is the Excellence Initiative so important for international scientists?
The Excellence Initiative has made Germany the subject of international attention, and scientists across the world are becoming increasingly interested in applying for a job at German Universities of Excellence. The developments in academia over the last decade mean that Germany can now compete on an international level, attracting top scientific talent. Scientists who may not have considered a career in Germany previously are attracted by the substantial funding for research projects and the rise in job opportunities.
With the launch of the next funding phase under the Excellence Strategy, even more international scientists are expected to pursue careers in Germany, especially as universities tend to actively seek scientists from abroad as part of their 鈥�brain drain鈥� strategy. In addition, the fact that this round of funding is open-ended means that scientists can expect to be involved in long-term projects, and so build a career and a life in Germany.
What is the Excellence Strategy (ExStra)?
The Excellence Strategy aims to strengthen outstanding research projects at universities and increase their visibility in international comparison. It emerged from the Excellence Initiative funding programme, which was evaluated positively. Further information can be found on the topic page on the Excellence Strategy.
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The three funding lines
There were three distinct categories that received funding under the Excellence Initiative:
- Clusters of Excellence (Exzellenzcluster)
- Universities of Excellence (贰虫锄别濒濒别苍锄耻苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟)
- Graduate schools (Graduiertenschulen)
The graduate schools were intended to create excellent research and supervision conditions for young academics. Below you will find an overview of the graduate schools that emerged from the first and second funding rounds.
Outstanding research alliances with special scientific issues were funded as Clusters of Excellence. The tables below provide an overview of the Clusters of Excellence from the first and second funding rounds.
The aim of the institutional strategies was to give the universities a new scientific and strategic direction in line with international competition. With average annual funding of 21 million euros per university, the third pillar also provided a considerable increase in available funds.
Universities of Excellence (2006-2011)
| University |
|---|
|
RWTH Aachen University |
|
Freie Universit盲t Berlin |
|
University of Freiburg |
|
University of 骋枚迟迟颈苍驳别苍 |
|
Heidelberg University |
|
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology |
|
University of Konstanz |
|
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich |
|
Technical University of Munich |
漏 academics
Universities of Excellence (2012-2017)
| University | Graduate School |
|---|---|
|
RWTH Aachen University |
Aachen Institute for Advanced Study in Computational Engineering Science |
|
Otto-Friedrich University Bamberg |
Bamberg Graduate School of Social Sciences |
|
University of Bayreuth |
Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies |
|
Freie Universit盲t Berlin |
Graduate School of North American Studies (John F. Kennedy-Institute for North American Studies) |
|
Freie Universit盲t Berlin |
Berlin Graduate School Muslim Cultures and Societies |
|
Freie Universit盲t Berlin |
Friedrich Schlegel Graduate School of Literary Studies |
|
Freie Universit盲t Berlin |
Graduate School for East Asian Studies |
|
Freie Universit盲t Berlin und Humboldt University of Berlin |
Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies |
|
Freie Universit盲t Berlin and Humboldt University of Berlin |
BSIO Berlin School of Integrative Oncology |
|
Humboldt University of Berlin |
Berlin School of Mind and Brain |
|
Humboldt University of Berlin |
School of Analytical Sciences Adlershof |
|
Berlin Institute of Technology |
Berlin Mathematical School |
|
Bielefeld University |
Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology (BGHS) |
|
Ruhr University |
Ruhr University Research School Plus |
|
University of Bremen |
Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS) |
|
Technische Universit盲t Darmstadt |
Computational Engineering |
|
Technische Universit盲t Darmstadt |
Darmstadt Graduate School of Excellence Energy Science and Engineering |
|
TU Dresden |
Dresden International Graduate School for Biomedicine and Bioengineering |
|
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg |
Graduate School of Advanced Optical Technologies |
|
University of Freiburg |
Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM) |
|
University of Giessen |
International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture |
|
University of 骋枚迟迟颈苍驳别苍 |
骋枚迟迟颈苍驳别苍 Graduate School of Neuroscience, Biophysics and Molecular Biosciences |
|
Heidelberg University |
Heidelberg Graduate School of Fundamental Physics |
|
Heidelberg University |
Heidelberg Graduate School of Mathematical and Computational Methods for the Sciences |
|
Heidelberg University |
Harmut Hoffman-Berling International Graduate School of Molecular and Cellular Biology |
|
University of Jena |
Jena School for Microbial Communication |
|
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology |
Karlsruhe School of Optics and Photonics (KSOP) |
|
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology |
Karlsruhe School of Elementary Particle and Astroparticle Physics: Science and Technology (KSETA) |
|
University of Kiel |
Integrated studies on human development in landscapes |
|
University of Cologne |
Bonn-Cologne Graduate School for Physics and Astronomy |
|
University of Cologne |
a.r.t.e.s. Graduate School for the Humanities Cologne (AGSHC) |
|
University of Konstanz |
Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology |
|
University of Konstanz |
Graduate School of Decision Sciences |
|
Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz |
Materials Science in Mainz |
|
University of Mannheim |
Graduate School in Economics and Social Sciences: Empirical and Quantitative Methods |
|
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich |
Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences |
|
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich |
Graduate School of Quantitative Biosciences Munich (QBM) |
|
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich |
Far Worlds: Archeology College Munich |
|
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and University of Regensburg |
Graduate School for East and Southeast European Studies |
|
Technical University of Munich |
International Graduate School of Science and Engineering (IGSSE) |
|
Saarland University |
厂补补谤产谤眉肠办别苍 Graduate School of Computer Science |
|
University of Stuttgart |
Graduate School for advanced Manufacturing Engineering in Stuttgart (GSaME) |
|
University of 罢眉产颈苍驳别苍 |
Graduate School LEAD (Learning, Educational Achievement, and Life Course Development |
|
Ulm University |
International Graduate School of Molecular Medicine Ulm (IGradU) |
|
Julius Maximilian University of W眉rzburg |
Graduate School for Life Sciences |
漏 academics
Clusters of Excellence (2012 鈥� 2017)
| City | University | Cluster of Excellence |
|---|---|---|
|
Aachen |
Rheinisch-Westf盲lische Technische Hochschule |
Integrative Produktionstechnik f眉r Hochlohnl盲nder |
|
Aachen |
Rheinisch-Westf盲lische Technische Hochschule |
Ma脽geschneiderte Kraftstoffe aus Biomasse |
|
Berlin |
Freie Universit盲t und 贬耻尘产辞濒诲迟-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
NeuroCure 鈥� neue Perspektiven in der Therapie neurologischer Erkrankungen |
|
Berlin |
Freie Universit盲t und 贬耻尘产辞濒诲迟-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
Topoi 鈥� Die Formation und Transformation von Raum und Wissen in den antiken Kulturen |
|
Berlin |
贬耻尘产辞濒诲迟-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
Bild Wissen Gestaltung. Ein interdisziplin盲res Labor |
|
Berlin |
Technische Universit盲t |
Unifying Concepts in Catalysis |
|
Bielefeld |
Universit盲t Bielefeld |
Kognitive Interaktionstechnologie |
|
Bochum |
搁耻丑谤-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
RESOLV (Ruhr Explores Solvation) 鈥� Verst盲ndnis und Design l枚sungsmittelabh盲ngiger Prozesse |
|
Bonn |
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universit盲t |
Mathematik: Grundlagen, Modelle, Anwendungen |
|
Bonn |
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universit盲t |
ImmunoSensation: Das Immunsensorische System |
|
Bremen |
Universit盲t Bremen |
Der Ozean im Erdsystem 鈥� MARUM 鈥� Zentrum f眉r Marine Umweltwissenschaften |
|
Chemnitz |
Technische Universit盲t |
Technologiefusion f眉r multifunktionale Leichtbaustrukturen 鈥� MERGE |
|
Dresden |
Technische Universit盲t |
Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) |
|
Dresden |
Technische Universit盲t |
Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfAED) |
|
顿眉蝉蝉别濒诲辞谤蹿/碍枚濒苍 |
Heinrich-Heine-Universit盲t D眉sseldorf und Universit盲t zu 碍枚濒苍 |
Exzellenzcluster f眉r Pflanzenwissenschaften 鈥� von komplexen Eigenschaften zu synthetischen Modulen |
|
贰谤濒补苍驳别苍/狈眉谤苍产别谤驳 |
贵谤颈别诲谤颈肠丑-础濒别虫补苍诲别谤-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
Neue Materialien und Prozesse 鈥� Hierarchische Strukturbildung f眉r funktionale Bauteile |
|
Frankfurt am Main |
Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universit盲t |
Dynamik Makromolekularer Komplexe |
|
Frankfurt am Main |
Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universit盲t |
Die Herausbildung normativer Ordnungen |
|
Frankfurt am Main/Gie脽en |
Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universit盲t und Justus-Liebig-Universit盲t |
Kardiopulmonales System |
|
Freiburg |
础濒产别谤迟-尝耻诲飞颈驳蝉-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
BIOSS Zentrum f眉r Biologische Signalstudien 鈥� von der Analyse zur Synthese |
|
Freiburg |
础濒产别谤迟-尝耻诲飞颈驳蝉-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
BrainLinks 鈥� BrainTools |
|
骋枚迟迟颈苍驳别苍 |
骋别辞谤驳-础耻驳耻蝉迟-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
Mikroskopie im Nanometerbereich und Molekularphysiologie des Gehirns |
|
Hamburg |
Universit盲t Hamburg |
Integrierte Klimasystemanalyse und -vorhersage |
|
Hamburg |
Universit盲t Hamburg |
The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI): Struktur, Dynamik und Kontrolle von Materie auf atomarer Skala |
|
Hannover |
Medizinische Hochschule |
REBIRTH 鈥� Von Regenerativer Biologie zu Rekonstruktiver Therapie |
|
Heidelberg |
搁耻辫谤别肠丑迟-碍补谤濒蝉-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
Zellul盲re Netzwerke: Von der Analyse molekularer Mechanismen zum quantitativen Verst盲ndnis komplexer Funktionen |
|
Heidelberg |
搁耻辫谤别肠丑迟-碍补谤濒蝉-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
Zellul盲re Netzwerke: Von der Analyse molekularer Mechanismen zum quantitativen Verst盲ndnis komplexer Funktionen |
|
Heidelberg |
搁耻辫谤别肠丑迟-碍补谤濒蝉-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
Asien und Europa im globalen Kontext: Die Dynamik der Transkulturalit盲t |
|
Kiel |
颁丑谤颈蝉迟颈补苍-础濒产谤别肠丑迟蝉-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
Ozean der Zukunft |
|
Kiel |
颁丑谤颈蝉迟颈补苍-础濒产谤别肠丑迟蝉-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
Entz眉ndungen an Grenzfl盲chen |
|
碍枚濒苍 |
Universit盲t zu 碍枚濒苍 |
Zellul盲re Stressantworten bei Alters-assoziierten Erkrankungen |
|
Konstanz |
Universit盲t Konstanz |
Kulturelle Grundlagen von Integration |
|
Mainz |
Johannes Gutenberg-Universit盲t |
Pr盲zisionsphysik, Fundamentalkr盲fte und Struktur der Materie |
|
惭眉苍肠丑别苍 |
尝耻诲飞颈驳-惭补虫颈尘颈濒颈补苍蝉-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
Nanosystem Initiative 惭眉苍肠丑别苍 (NIM) |
|
惭眉苍肠丑别苍 |
尝耻诲飞颈驳-惭补虫颈尘颈濒颈补苍蝉-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
Zentrum f眉r Integrierte Proteinforschung (CIPSM) |
|
惭眉苍肠丑别苍 |
尝耻诲飞颈驳-惭补虫颈尘颈濒颈补苍蝉-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
M眉nchner Zentrum f眉r fortgeschrittene Photonik (MAP) |
|
惭眉苍肠丑别苍 |
尝耻诲飞颈驳-惭补虫颈尘颈濒颈补苍蝉-鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟盲迟 |
Cluster f眉r Systemneurologie 鈥� 惭眉苍肠丑别苍 |
|
惭眉苍肠丑别苍 |
Technische Universit盲t |
Origin and Structure of the Universe 鈥� The Cluster of Excellence for Fundamental Physics |
|
惭眉苍蝉迟别谤 |
Westf盲lische Wilhelms-Universit盲t |
Religion und Politik in den Kulturen der Vormoderne und der Moderne |
|
惭眉苍蝉迟别谤 |
Westf盲lische Wilhelms-Universit盲t |
Cells in Motion 鈥� CiM: Visualisierung und Verstehen zellul盲ren Verhaltens in lebenden Organismen |
|
Oldenburg |
Carl von Ossietzky Universit盲t |
H枚ren f眉r alle: Modelle, Technologien und L枚sungsans盲tze f眉r Diagnostik, Wiederherstellung und Unterst眉tzung des H枚rens |
|
厂补补谤产谤眉肠办别苍 |
Universit盲t des Saarlandes |
Multimodal Computing and Interaction |
|
Stuttgart |
Universit盲t Stuttgart |
Simulationstechnik |
|
罢眉产颈苍驳别苍 |
Eberhard Karls Universit盲t |
Werner Reichardt Centrum f眉r Integrative Neurowissenschaften (CIN) |
