Minister of Science Sebastian Gemkow said: "Saxony as a science hub has the opportunity to significantly expand its international appeal."  

Sebastian Gemkow notified the Saxon Cabinet about the current status of the competition for the joint Excellence Strategy of the German Federal and State Governments to promote cutting-edge research at universities. He also talked about how the Free State of Saxony was supporting its universities.   

At present, preparations are underway for the submission of full proposals in August 2024. Saxony performed extremely well in the competition for draft proposals from TU Dresden and Leipzig University. A total of five draft proposals for new Clusters of Excellence from Saxony were selected for the final round by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and German Science and Humanities Council (WR). In addition, TU Dresden will submit renewal applications for its three Clusters of Excellence that are already receiving funding.   

The Free State of Saxony will provide the universities with advice and financial support for all Cluster of Excellence projects. A new seven-year funding period will begin in 2026. In accordance with the agreement between the Federal and State Governments on the Excellence Strategy, Saxony’s contribution to a funded cluster will be 25%. State funds can also be used for equipment and other investments, e.g. for construction projects.  

The universities are supported by the Ministry of Science over the course of the current preparations for the full application and the subsequent review process. The results of the Excellence Strategy will help to strengthen university research at an internationally competitive level.  

Minister of Science Sebastian Gemkow said: "We conduct cutting-edge research at our universities, which we want to strengthen even further and make even more internationally visible. The Clusters of Excellence are of outstanding significance for Saxony as a science and research hub. They can also have a major impact on our future when it comes to transfer opportunities.  The investments that the Free State is making here in the form of support funding are paying off. The Ministry of Science and the entire State Government endorse the research projects of the eight Clusters of Excellence that are applying for funding from 2026."  

Vice-Rector Research at TU Dresden, Prof. Angela Rösen-Wolff, added: "We are delighted that the Free State is supporting us so strongly in this decisive phase of the Excellence competition. These are considerable funds that the Free State of Saxony is making available to us to support our six full proposals for Clusters of Excellence during the decisive application phase. The start-up funding allows researchers in the Clusters to make the necessary investments for setting up their cutting-edge research in the best possible way."  

Prof. Jens-Karl Eilers, Vice-Rector for Excellence Development: Research and Transfer at Leipzig University added: "We are extremely grateful to the Free State of Saxony and our Minister of Science for the strong financial support we have received over the final meters of our sprint to finish the applications for our Cluster projects. In the fiercely contested Excellence competition, we know that the Free State of Saxony is routing for us and we see this as further proof of its strong commitment to innovation and excellent research on the most pressing issues of our time."  

The background to the Excellence Strategy of the German Federal and State Governments:
In 2016, an agreement was reached between the German Federal and State Governments to provide long-term support for cutting-edge research at German universities. The aim is to sustainably strengthen Germany's position as a science location in international competition and make it more visible globally. The funding is aimed at facilitating top-notch scientific achievements, sharpening the profiles of universities and encouraging even stronger networking and collaboration within the academic system. As a result, the Excellence Strategy combines the promotion of cutting-edge research with long-term and strategic investments in the university system.  

The Excellence Strategy comprises two funding lines:
1. Clusters of Excellence
2. Universities of Excellence 

Clusters of Excellence and Universities of Excellence are selected on the basis of science-led selection procedures. The procedures are carried out by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Science and Humanities Council (WR) on behalf of the Federal and State Governments.  

The decision regarding which Clusters will be funded from January 1, 2026 will be made by the Excellence Commission in May 2025. It comprises the scientists on the Committee of Experts and the Federal and State Ministers and Senators responsible for science and research.   

In order to strengthen competition, funding of EUR 539 million per year will be granted for up to 70 Clusters of Excellence throughout Germany from the second funding period onwards. Starting in 2026, a total of EUR 687 million per year will be available in the Excellence Strategy. 75 percent of the funds will be provided by the Federal Government and 25 percent by the Federal State to which the Cluster of Excellence or University of Excellence belongs.  

In November 2025, universities that have acquired at least two Clusters of Excellence are eligble to submit an application for the University of Excellence funding line. A decision regarding the award of this funding as a University of Excellence will be made in 2026. Around EUR148 million p.a. are available for up to fifteen Universities of Excellence or Excellence Consortia. Additional resources will be allocated for the funding of up to four new Universities of Excellence. In Saxony, TU Dresden is currently being funded as a University of Excellence.  

TU Dresden was already successful in the previous joint Excellence Initiative of the German Federal and State Governments and was awarded the title of University of Excellence in 2012. Since 2019, TU Dresden has received permanent funding as a University of Excellence in the current, indefinite agreement on the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments. As a University of Excellence, TU Dresden will be evaluated by a Committee of Experts in 2025.

Contact:
Falk Lange
Spokesperson
Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism
Tel.: +49 351 564-60200