Rhine-Main universities agree on stronger cooperation for success!

Rhine-Main universities agree on stronger cooperation for success!

On August 28, 2025, the presidents of the Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) signed a revised framework cooperation agreement. The presidents, including Prof. Dr. Tanja Brühl from the Technical University of Darmstadt, Prof. Dr. Georg Krausch from the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff from the Goethe University Frankfurt have taken a significant step towards intensifying their collaboration.

The new agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between universities, especially when applying for funding for the Excellence Network. This step comes on the tenth anniversary of the association, which was launched in 2015. The areas of cooperation are diverse and include research and research infrastructure, studying and teaching as well as the exchange of knowledge with society.

Efficient governance structures

The governance structures of the new cooperation agreement are deliberately kept lean. This should enable efficient collaboration and quick decision-making processes. The fundamental elements of the agreement include the RMU Board of Directors as a governing body and the RMU Assembly as an internal advisory body. An International Advisory Board is also planned, which acts as an external advisory body.

The presidents emphasize the successes of the last ten years. This includes increasing the attractiveness of universities as employers and opening up internal training opportunities. Ten joint study programs have already been developed and around 675 million euros in third-party funding will have been raised in 2023. Over 93,500 students are enrolled at the three universities, which together provide around 1,500 professorships.

Shared goals and support

A central goal of the RMU is to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and further expand the universities' research strength in the areas of life sciences and medicine, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, particle physics and materials and energy research. Science Minister Timon Gremmels underlines the importance of networking and alliances in science, which are intended to be strengthened by the new agreement.

The states of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate support the RMU's cooperation and have indicated that a corresponding agreement regulating the handling of different state laws should be drawn up by early summer 2025. In addition to the joint financing of research projects, the organization of studies and the exchange of resources are also being considered.

The manufacturers want to continue the successes of recent years and further strengthen the support of Early Career Researchers (ECR) and employees. Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff emphasizes the importance of this agreement for the success of the region, while Prof. Dr. Tanja Brühl emphasizes the integration of complementary expertise. Prof. Dr. Georg Krausch also announces his application to become a network of excellence, which further underlines the universities' ambitions.

In a larger context that emphasizes cooperation between German universities, the focus on international university cooperation and transnational education shows how important these alliances are for the future of the academic landscape. German universities, which are increasingly facing global educational competition, must observe minimum qualitative and ethical requirements in order to act as quality-conscious partners ( international university collaborations ).

With this revised framework cooperation agreement, the Rhine-Main universities are not only setting an example for the future of their cooperation, but also for strengthening scientific excellence in the region.