University of Cologne: Five Clusters of Excellence Granted Funding for Next Seven Years
© Viscom for University of Cologne
Five proposals for Clusters of Excellence win funding in the federal competition as part of Germany’s Excellence Strategy. Clusters in aging research, astrophysics, plant sciences, quantum research, and economics will be funded in the next funding period.
The University of Cologne is once again highly successful in the Excellence Strategy: Five Clusters of Excellence will be funded in the next funding period. This was announced by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Science and Humanities Council. The following Clusters will be funded for seven years: CECAD for aging research, CEPLAS for plant sciences, DYNAVERSE for astrophysics, ECONtribute for economics and ML4Q for quantum research. These Clusters reflect the academic fields of the natural sciences, life sciences, humanities and social sciences represented at the University of Cologne.
“We are delighted that five of the University of Cologne’s proposals were persuasive. This decision demonstrates that our scholars and scientists are conducting highly relevant and exceptional research. I would like to thank all those involved for the commitment and effort that went into the preparation of the six proposals. I would also like to thank our partner institutions and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia for their excellent cooperation and tremendous support. We will continue to be in ongoing dialogue with the group that was not accepted for funding this time to ensure its further development as an important component of our research strategy,” says Professor Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee, Rector of the University of Cologne.
The UoC’s Clusters of Excellence are embedded in the research structure of the university’s Key Profile Areas, which streamline topics of high academic and social relevance. They are characterized by research in large consortia at the highest international level.
With the Excellence Strategy, the federal and state governments are striving to strengthen Germany’s position as a centre of science and research in the long term and to further improve its global competitiveness. The awarding of at least two Clusters of Excellence (first funding line) qualifies the University of Cologne to apply for the status of a University of Excellence (second funding line). In light of today’s result, the University of Cologne will prepare a letter of intent for the second funding line to be submitted to the German Science and Humanities Council by 27 June 2025.
More information here.