Future of science: Cluster of Excellence decisions are imminent!

Future of science: Cluster of Excellence decisions are imminent!

On May 22, 2025, an important decision will be made that could have a decisive impact on the future of research at universities in the Ruhr area. On this day, the German Research Foundation (DFG) will decide on the continuation of clusters of excellence that have already been funded. This is an important step within the Excellence Strategy, which is intended to strategically strengthen the research landscape in Germany. Participants in a digital event to assess these decisions include professors from the universities of Duisburg-Essen, Dortmund and Bochum.

The event will take place at 8 p.m. and is open to the public. Those interested have the opportunity to ask questions about the excellence strategy during a webinar. The access link as well as the webinar ID (662 5670 6865) and the passcode (714365) have already been provided. Members of the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr), which has existed since 2007, hope that the excellence strategy will strengthen their already broad-based cooperation in research, teaching and administration.

Cluster of Excellence at the Ruhr University Bochum

Ahead of the decisions, the Ruhr University Bochum submitted continuation applications for two of its clusters of excellence: “Ruhr Explores Solvation – RESOLV” and “Securing the Digital Society – CASA”. The Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, which has been funded since 2012, researches the influence of solvents on chemical reactions. CASA, on the other hand, develops innovative IT security solutions to protect digital society and has been funded since 2019.

The deadline for submitting these applications was August 22, 2024. In addition to the applications from Bochum, two further application outlines were also submitted by the cooperation partner University of Duisburg-Essen and the Technical University of Dortmund. These projects, “REASONS – River Ecosystems in the Anthroposcene – sustainable scientific SOlutioNS” and “Color Meets Flavor”, are intended to create the conditions for future funding. Rector Prof. Dr. Martin Paul expressed himself positively about the collaboration within the University Alliance and its chances when submitting an application.

Insights into the excellence strategy

The Excellence Strategy is a central funding instrument of the DFG, which has selected clusters of excellence for funding since its introduction in 2017. In this last funding period, there were a total of 88 application outlines from 63 universities, from which 57 clusters were selected for seven years, as the DFG explains in its report. This decision forms the cornerstone of the funding period so far and is being followed with great interest by the scientific community.

In addition to the continuation of the existing clusters of excellence, new applications have also been created that could further expand the existing scientific networks in the Ruhr area. With more than 120,000 students and almost 1,300 professors, the UA Ruhr is one of the largest and most powerful scientific locations in Germany. Its aim is to continue to make a significant contribution to the research landscape in Germany.

Success for the universities involved depends on the decision on May 22, 2025, which will determine whether the valuable research efforts can be continued. The DFG has already announced that the results will be made available to those involved shortly after the webinar.

For further information about the DFG funding program and the Excellence Strategy DFG website be visited. The TU Dortmund also reports on the event and the organization in detail here. Those interested in the political dimension can also read the article Ruhr University Bochum look.