TUD rector Prof. Hans Müller-Steinhagen revealed previously released details about the continuation of the Excellence Initiative at a news briefing on May 2 as well as at a staff briefing event on May 3, 2016.

On April 22, 2016, federal and state government officials had deliberated on a joint support programme to boost excellent research at universities which is intended to succeed the Excellence Initiative.
The agreement on this follow-up programme, which had been reached at the Joint Research Conference (Gemeinsame Wissenschaftskonferenz - GWK), will be conclusively decided on by the heads of the federal and state governments on June 16, 2016.