Remarkable Achievement: Saxony Increases Its Excellence Clusters by 100% - Substantial Progress: Saxony Increases the Number of Excellence Clusters by Two
Saxony Secures Double Representation in Excellence Initiative
Saxony will significantly strengthen its presence in Germany's Excellence Initiative, as six research clusters at the TU Dresden and Leipzig University have been selected for funding over the next seven years. The German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Science Council in Bonn announced the successful projects, which competed against 70 other initiatives nationwide.
Saxony's minister president, Michael Kretschmer (CDU), praised the "fantastic success" of the universities in Dresden and Leipzig, stating it demonstrated their exceptional performance and cooperation at the highest level. Science minister Sebastian Gemkow (CDU) echoed these sentiments, assuring continued support for the universities throughout the application process.
The TU Dresden will continue funding for its existing clusters - "Physics of Life," "Complexity and Topology in Quantum Materials," and "Center for Tactile Internet" - and launch two new projects: "REC2" aims to develop electronics for the future, focusing on sustainable and resource-efficient production, while "Care" explores climate-neutral and efficient construction in collaboration with the RWTH Aachen.
Leipzig University will launch the Center for Metabolism, aiming to improve understanding of metabolic disorders that contribute to health problems such as diabetes, fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease. The center will collaborate with the University Hospital, the Heart Center Leipzig, and several Max Planck, Helmholtz, and Fraunhofer Institutes.
The Excellence Strategy, a joint venture between the German federal and state governments, was designed to bolster top-tier research at German universities and enhance their international competitiveness. The initiative provides substantial funding, encourages international collaboration, strengthens university profiles, and supports long-term planning. Over the course of seven years, each cluster can expect to receive annual funding of around eight to ten million euros.
In this round, a total of 98 proposals were submitted by 47 German universities. Combined with additional federal funding, around 539 million euros will flow into the six Saxon clusters. This investment will benefit the economy by supporting research in future fields, such as machine learning and electronics in Dresden and metabolic diseases in Leipzig.
- The community aid program in Saxony will undoubtedly gain momentum with the announcement of six community programmes at TU Dresden and Leipzig University receiving funding for the next seven years.
- In the realm of health and wellness, one of Saxony's community programmes, the Center for Metabolism at Leipzig University, aims to combat metabolic disorders contributing to health problems such as diabetes, fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease.
- Recognizing the economic potential of research and technology, Saxony is planning to invest in business advancements through its community programme, "REEC2," which focuses on sustainable and resource-efficient production of electronics.
- Education and self-development will receive a significant boost from Saxony's community programmes, as the University of Leipzig collaborates with research institutes to bolster international competitiveness.
