探花社区

What is the Excellence Strategy?

The Excellence Strategy is a product of the Excellence Initiative, which was established in 2005 initially as a temporary funding instrument. Following an evaluation of the programme in the so-called Imboden Report of 2016, which found that the measures introduced by the Excellence Initiative had been productive, the decision was made to make the funding of cutting-edge research permanent.

The Excellence Strategy seeks to strengthen outstanding research projects at German universities and boost their international visibility. The German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Science and Humanities Council were tasked with implementing the strategy. Final decisions as to which institutions receive funding are made by the Excellence Commission, which includes international experts in addition to the ministers of science from Germany鈥檚 16 states and from the federal government in Berlin.

Each funding period lasts for seven years, with the first round extending from 2019 to the end of 2025, with a total of 533 euros per year being made available by German state governments and the federal government. The new funding round begins in 2026 and the pot has now grown to 687 million euros per year. The federal government is to provide 75 percent of the funding, with the remaining 25 percent being provided by the state in which the university in question is located.

What is a Cluster of Excellence?

Much of the funding provided by the programme goes to so-called Clusters of Excellence, which are regional research consortia including outstanding research institutions and scientists focused on specific scientific, internationally competitive ranges of topics in addition to offering excellent learning environments and career opportunities for young scientists. In the current round of funding, which will come to an end at the conclusion of 2025, there are 57 Clusters of Excellence receiving a total of 385 million euros per year. Starting in 2026, there will be 70 Clusters of Excellence receiving 539 million euros annually.

To become a Cluster of Excellence, universities or research consortia must take part in a two-step application process made up of an initial draft proposal followed by a formal application. They must submit their application materials to the . Successful Clusters of Excellence may apply for the next round of funding without first submitting a draft proposal.

What are Universities of Excellence and university consortia ?

The second funding line that is part of the Excellence Strategy is reserved for Universities of Excellence and university consortia. To receive such funding, according to the Science and Humanities Council, universities must have a successful overall concept in addition to, in the case of a university, two approved Clusters of Excellence. University consortia, by extension, must have three approved Clusters of Excellence. Universities and university consortia that fulfil these criteria are funded with a total of 148 million euros per year.

Criticism of the Excellence Strategy

The Excellence Initiative and the programmes that have emerged from it have faced a certain amount of criticism. Many argue that universities in Germany don鈥檛 just need excellent research but also outstanding teaching and support for those who study there. Others point out that the programme funnels money to top research institutions whereas solid research being conducted at non-elite facilities is being neglected.

In addition, many universities and technical universities are suffering from a lack of equipment or ageing facilities. Despite rapidly rising numbers of students last year, basic university funding was hardly increased in most German states.

Some also say that large universities seem to have better chances at receiving the Excellence designation, while small universities get little money from the programme. They also argue that fewer institutions will ultimately receive funding through the programme in the future.

The elimination of graduate schools as a third funding pillar led to a reduction to just 45 to 50 targeted clusters. In order to meet the programme requirements, at least 22 of these Clusters of Excellence had to be part of Universities of Excellence. As a consequence, even less funding would be left over for the remaining institutions.

In the resolution of November 2022 to continue developing the Excellence Strategy, policymakers from state and federal governments elected to expand the number of funding recipients to 70. The hope is that both existing clusters and new clusters can benefit from the funding line. Or that they will at least have a fair chance of being awarded such funding through the application process.