Cluster of Excellence: 52 million euros for research against inequality!

Cluster of Excellence: 52 million euros for research against inequality!

On May 22, 2025, it was announced that the University of Konstanz's Cluster of Excellence “The Politics of Inequality” would be funded for another seven years. This decision, which was made by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Science Council, includes a funding volume of around 52 million euros. The cluster is part of the Excellence Strategy, a program that, since its launch in 2016, has aimed to strengthen top-level research at German universities and increase their international visibility.

The Clusters of Excellence are interdisciplinary research associations that work on relevant topics at a top international level. The cluster in Konstanz is dedicated to the political causes and consequences of inequality, both in Germany and globally, and analyzes these in various political systems, including democracies and autocracies. The central questions include the perception of inequality and its influence on political participation and decision-making processes.

Research focus and future projects

In the second funding phase, the focus will be more on preventing a self-reinforcing process of inequality. One of the cluster's innovative projects is the Konstanz Inequality Barometer, a representative study on the perception of inequality in Germany, which is to be expanded to other countries in the future. Another concern is the creation of an Inequality Discourse Observatory, which will analyze the discourse about inequality in the media and among decision-makers.

The excellence strategy on which these clusters are based promotes top international research and supports networking within the science system. It was launched as a continuation of the Excellence Initiative (2007-2017), which had already led to outstanding research achievements.

Consequences for the University of Konstanz

Despite the positive news for The Politics of Inequality cluster, there were also setbacks. The Cluster of Excellence “Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behavior” (CASCB) will not receive any further funding. This decision has drastic effects on the University of Konstanz, which relies on the funding of two clusters of excellence in order to be recognized as a university of excellence. The university has been continuously supported as a university of excellence since 2007 and is one of the most successful institutes within the Excellence Initiative and the current Excellence Strategy.

Overall, the latest decision shows the importance and influence of the Clusters of Excellence on the German scientific landscape. Clusters of Excellence not only support educational and research institutions, but also help ensure that Germany continues to be considered a frontrunner in international scientific competition. The next round of evaluations and the subsequent application for universities of excellence are planned for 2025, with up to 70 clusters to receive financial support in the upcoming call for proposals.

For more information about the Excellence Strategy and the funded projects, visit the official websites DFG and des BMBF. You can find further details on current developments at the University of Konstanz here.