News

LiDO4

TU Dortmund University Launches New High-Performance Computer

TU Dortmund University has hosted “LiDO”, a central high-performance computer that forms a fundamental basis for successful research projects and is also used by other institutions in the region, for 20 years. On 17 March, the university, together with Ina Brandes, Minister for Culture and Science, launched the fourth generation of LiDO. To set it up, the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) have allocated funds of €4.5 million.

Heidelberg University remains University of Excellence

Heidelberg University has convincingly defended its status as a University of Excellence. This means that the university will receive funding for another seven years in order to continue strengthening its scientific and scholarly performance capability based on a strategic concept for the whole institution.

University of Cologne Researcher Jane Reznick from the CECAD Research Cluster of Excellence on Aging Receives Prestigious ERC ‘Proof of Concept’ Grant

The NEWHEART projects develop a new treatment option after heart attacks. European Research Council (ERC) funding of 150,000 euros over 18 months allows researchers to explore the commercial or societal potential of their work.

University of Cologne: 4.4 Million Euros for Research on Rethinking Global Governance and Human Security

The University of Cologne and Nuffield College (Oxford University) launch landmark project on the history of global governance and human security in the 1990s, funded by the Alfred Landecker Foundation.

NXTGN Startup Factory among Europe’s most important Start-up Hubs

The NXTGN Startup Factory ranks 13th in the Financial Times “Europe’s Leading Start-up Hubs 2026” list, which features a total of 180 start-up ecosystems. The NXTGN Startup Factory in Baden-Württemberg with substantial involvement from Heidelberg University, launched in July 2025 as one of ten federal “lighthouse” projects, with the aim of promoting technology-driven start-ups as a central point of contact.

Think.Try.Transform.

Podcast Explores the Impact the Excellence Strategy Has on German Universities

In the third episode of “Think.Try.Transform.”, the podcast of the Ruhr Innovation Lab, an external observer of the Excellence Competition joins as guest: Dr. Jan-Martin Wiarda has been analyzing Germany’s academic landscape as a journalist and blogger for more than 20 years. In conversation, he discusses what impact the Excellence Strategy has had on universities and research in Germany since its launch in 2006, while also addressing criticism and controversies surrounding it.

India Gateway

New TU Dortmund University Initiative Focuses on India

With “India Gateway”, TU Dortmund University aims to create a framework for long-term partnerships with Indian universities. In mid-January, Professor Manfred Bayer, President of TU Dortmund University, presented the initiative at the German Embassy in New Delhi, India’s capital city. The aim is to foster research collaboration, encourage Indian students to pursue a Master’s degree at TU Dortmund University and give domestic students in Germany a better understanding of India as a global economic partner.