Table of contents

1. 1. Clusters of Excellence at TU Dresden
      1. CeTI: Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop
      2. ct.qmat: Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter
      3. PoL: Physics of Life
   2. In the application process
      1. BiC: Behaviour in Context: Brain and Machine Computations of Behaviour in Complex and Uncertain Environments
      2. CARE: Climate-Neutral and Resource-Efficient Construction
      3. REC²: Responsible Electronics in the Climate Change Era

In August 2024, TUD submitted a total of six full applications in Germany's most important competition for funding for cutting-edge research - the Excellence Strategy. 

Clusters of Excellence at TU Dresden

The three established Clusters of Excellence CeTI, ct.qmat and PoL were selected for funding as Clusters of Excellence by the DFG in 2018. They are dedicated to future topics such as the tactile internet and assistive robotics, novel quantum materials and the physical foundations of life. Funding for the three Clusters of Excellence began on January 1, 2019 and will run for seven years.

CeTI: Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop

Spokesperson: Prof. Frank Fitzek

The Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop is a Cluster of Excellence at TU Dresden. In the future, humans should be able to interact in real time with robots or machines in the real or virtual world. The aim of the research is to democratize access to skills and expertise in order to promote equal opportunities for people of different gender, age, cultural background or physical limitations. Scientists from the fields of electrical engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, psychology, medicine and neuroscience work together in an interdisciplinary way to create the basis for novel applications in medicine, industry and the Internet of Skills.

Further information: https://ceti.one/
 

ct.qmat: Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter

Spokesperson: Prof. Matthias Vojta

The global competition for quantum technologies is well underway. Materials that exhibit exotic phenomena play a crucial role in this respect. On top of the game: The Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat–Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter. Almost 400 scientists from 38 countries are exploring quantum materials that will be able to, e.g., conduct electricity without loss and store gigantic amounts of information in the future. They reveal their exotic phenomena under extreme conditions such as ultra-low temperatures, high pressure or strong magnetic fields. If these special properties can be made applicable under everyday conditions, this will be the basis for revolutionary technical applications.

ct.qmat – a joint research collaboration by TUD Dresden University of Technology and Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg – is the only German cluster that traverses federal state boundaries. This cutting-edge research is closely interlinked with four renowned Dresden institutes of the Max Planck Society, the Helmholtz Association and the Leibniz Association.

Further information: https://www.ctqmat.de/
► Joint Gender Equality and Diversity PolicyJulius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg & TUD Dresden University of Technology

PoL: Physics of Life

Spokesperson: Prof. Otger Campàs

Understanding life down to its smallest components is one of the great challenges of our time. Why does the heart beat on the left side and how do the laws of physics influence our DNA? At the Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life (PoL) experts from physics, biology and computer science jointly investigate which biophysical processes in molecules, cells and tissues are responsible for giving organs their shape and their place in the organism. PoL considers biological processes as complex physical phenomena.

The research insights obtained create the foundations to understand the organizational principles of life, and to enable a new approach for addressing the health issues of our society. The DFG funded cluster is a collaborative effort between scientists from TU Dresden and research institutions of the DRESDEN-concept network.

Further information : https://physics-of-life.tu-dresden.de/en

In the application process

For the second research phase of the Excellence Strategy, TU Dresden was tasked with submitting three full applications for its new Cluster of Excellence initiatives in February. That makes TUD the second strongest university in Germany. The decision on funding as Clusters of Excellence will be taken in May 2025.

BiC: Behaviour in Context: Brain and Machine Computations of Behaviour in Complex and Uncertain Environments

Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Stefan Kiebel  

The human brain controls behavior in complex situations, such as when communicating with others or when driving. Despite years of research, AI systems just can’t keep up in terms of efficiency. The BiC Cluster of Excellence wants to investigate whether recently discovered brain mechanisms represent key principles and can be transferred to machine learning and the development of therapies.

CARE: Climate-Neutral and Resource-Efficient Construction

Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Viktor Mechtcherine (TUD) and
Prof. Dr. Martin Claßen (RWTH Aachen) 

Conventional concrete and cement make up 80% of the materials used in construction and are responsible for more than 8% of global CO₂ emissions during production. The CARE Cluster of Excellence at TU Dresden and RWTH Aachen University aims to use climate-friendly building materials, construction principles and production technologies to achieve the goal of sustainable construction in every aspect.

REC²: Responsible Electronics in the Climate Change Era

Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Yana Vaynzof 

Electronics bring many benefits to our lives, but at a cost of enormous resource and energy consumption and generation of e-waste. The REC² cluster is creating the scientific basis for the electronics of the future: new material platforms, device concepts and integrated systems with which responsible electronics can be realized in an ecologically, economically and societally sustainable way.

Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Free State of Saxony as part of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Government