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Science in dialogue: Rhine-Main universities shape the future
On July 11, 2025, stakeholders discussed science challenges in the RMU alliance on the Mainz University campus.
Science in dialogue: Rhine-Main universities shape the future
On July 11, 2025, an important science breakfast of the Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) took place on the campus of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. The RMU, which consists of the Goethe University Frankfurt, the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the Technical University of Darmstadt, offers a platform for the exchange of current challenges in the scientific sector. Twelve important stakeholders from the Frankfurt-Rhine-Main region took part in the event, including Clemens Hoch, Rhineland-Palatinate State Minister for Science and Health, and Christoph Degen, Hesse State Secretary for Science, Research, Art and Culture.
The main aim of the event was to discuss the effects of the global political situation on science and to develop common perspectives. The presidents of the three universities emphasized the responsibility and strength of their alliance. They emphasized that the RMU's scientific projects respond to current challenges and strive for solutions through cutting-edge research. The RMU is applying to become an excellence association as part of the federal and state excellence strategy, which aims to strengthen the international competitiveness of German science.
Excellence strategy and its meaning
The Excellence Strategy was launched by the federal and state governments in 2016 to support top research at German universities and increase visibility. In this context, Professor Enrico Schleiff, President of Goethe University, explained that the RMU is seen as beneficial for all members in the second funding line of the Excellence Strategy. This includes students, teachers, researchers and employees. The clusters of excellence are intended to benefit a large number of groups and benefit society as a whole.
The RMU strives to shape its scientific activities through innovative approaches and solutions. The focus is on initiatives such as the startup incubator Launch Rhein-Main to promote entrepreneurship among students and the support of the startup Factory Futury, which was awarded in the EXIST lighthouse competition. Professor Georg Krausch, President of the Johannes Gutenberg University, and Dr. Martin Lommel, Chancellor of TU Darmstadt, explained the positive effects of the excellence strategy on the individual universities and their cooperation.
Regional cooperation and future prospects
A central theme during the science breakfast was the need to build bridges between Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse in the field of science. Clemens Hoch and Christoph Degen emphasized the cross-border importance of the Frankfurt-Rhine-Main scientific region. This cooperation not only promotes the exchange of knowledge, but also joint study programs and technology transfer between the universities.
The annual investment of 687 million euros, which will be made available for the excellence strategy from 2026, is seen as the key to success. Most of the funding comes from the federal government (75%), while the remaining 25% comes from the respective federal states. The Excellence Strategy thus enables the expansion of strategic goals and promotes international networking.
The next RMU day is planned for autumn 2026 at the Technical University of Darmstadt, which underlines the ongoing initiative to strengthen the Rhine-Main knowledge region. The event was not only an opportunity for networking and discussion, but also an important step towards a collaborative future for the scientific landscape in this region.
The importance of the RMU as a network of excellence is expected to continue to grow in the coming years and contribute to increasing the region's attractiveness for talent and research. More and more research institutions are recognizing the need for collaboration to effectively meet the challenges of a rapidly changing global scientific landscape.
[rhein-main-universitaeten.de] reports that the presidents of the three universities emphasized the responsibility and strength of their alliance. This is done as part of the Excellence Strategy, which aims to promote the international competitiveness of German science. Further information about the Excellence Strategy can be found on the [bmbf.de] website.