TUD Dresden submits self-report on promoting excellence: A milestone!

TUD Dresden submits self-report on promoting excellence: A milestone!

On August 1, 2025, the Technical University of Dresden (TUD) submitted its self-report as a university of excellence to the Science Council. This submission represents a significant milestone for TUD and paves the way for the next phase of excellence funding. The report summarizes the university's developments over the last six years, during which it was supported by excellence funding. Prof. Ursula Staudinger, the Rector of the TUD, thanked everyone involved for their work during this successful phase.

In May 2023, TUD was able to demonstrate its research strength by winning five clusters of excellence. These clusters focus on key research fields, including cell and developmental biology, quantum mechanics in the atomic range and efficient human-machine collaboration. These achievements consolidate TUD's position as one of the five best-performing universities in Germany, offering a wide range of subjects in engineering, natural sciences, humanities, cultural and social sciences, and medicine.

Strategic vision and future evaluation

Submitting the self-report is not only a review, but also an outlook on the TUD's strategic vision for the years 2027 to 2033. The university pursues the goal of further developing itself as an internationally visible and regionally anchored institution. The overall strategy “TUD 2028 – Synergy and beyond” aims to increase the influence in science, business and society and to expand the recruitment and promotion of scientific talent at all career levels.

The next evaluation of TUD will take place in November 2025, at which time the university will be assessed by an international panel of experts. The results of the Science Council’s evaluation will be presented in March 2026. A decision will then be made about the continuation of the status as a university of excellence, which is likely to be of great importance for the further development of the TUD. The TUD was already successful in the previous Excellence Initiative and received the title of “University of Excellence” in 2012. Since 2019, the university has received long-term funding as part of the Excellence Strategy, but it is obliged to undergo a comprehensive evaluation every seven years.

Research priorities and international collaboration

The research profiles at TUD are diverse. The focus areas include health sciences, biomedicine and bioengineering as well as information technology and microelectronics. This broad research landscape is complemented by international collaborations that include partnerships with universities in countries such as Argentina, Australia, Canada and China.

Together with other German universities of excellence, such as the University of Bonn, which has a particularly strong position with six clusters of excellence, and the University of Heidelberg, which is considered the oldest university in Germany, the TUD is strategically positioning itself in an intensely competitive environment. The challenges facing the university are therefore part of a national and international discourse to promote science and research.

With its comprehensive approach to strengthening research and teaching, TUD has all the prerequisites to further expand and consolidate its role as an excellent educational institution. The coming years will show how successfully it can implement these ambitious goals.