208 pages – 105 million euro. Today is the deadline and TU Dresden has submitted its proposal for University of Excellence status to the German Council of Science and Humanities in Cologne. This document will ideally be worth around 105 million euro in funding for the measures it proposes for the period until 2026. More than two years were spent preparing the proposal and approximately 1,000 people were directly involved in work groups, future labs, surveys, meetings and retreats. Many more were involved intermittently or indirectly.

“It was a tremendous effort and we can be proud of this accomplishment” says Prof. Hans Müller-Steinhagen, Rector of TUD, with relief. "It was a remarkable feat to meet the requirements made by the Science Council for this proposal while simultaneously maintaining university operations. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those involved in the proposal as well as to those who shouldered some of the burden for their colleagues and safeguarded the continued operation of our major education and research organisation.”

However, the proposal is only one of many milestones in the overall process. In February 2019, international reviewers will visit TU Dresden for an on-site inspection. Alongside the proposal, the inspection is of paramount importance in the decision as to whether or not TUD will retain its University of Excellence title. “Our status as a University of Excellence has given us significant financial and creative leeway that would not have been possible without this title”, emphasises Prof. Müller-Steinhagen. “Since we want to sustain these opportunities for development, we are once again participating in this demanding Excellence Competition of the Federal and State Governments.”

A distinguishing feature of this newest funding round is that it is intended to be permanent. After seven years of funding, the university will not be required to re-apply but will be subject to an evaluation. The prerequisite is that the university has at least two Clusters of Excellence.

The final decision on the "University of Excellence" status will be made on 19 July 2019.