Excellence Strategy

The University of Hohenheim scores highly in the awarding of Clusters of Excellence

The “Excellence Strategy” of the federal and state governments aims to strengthen Germany as a science location in the long term and further improve its international competitiveness. The funding line of the “Excellence Strategy” of the federal and state governments is considered one of the most important in Germany and is therefore hotly contested.

Excellence Strategy

The University of Hohenheim scores highly in the awarding of Clusters of Excellence

Excellence Cluster

In this funding line, internationally competitive research areas at German universities are funded on a project basis (annual budget: 385 million euros; from 2026: 529 million euros). In the second funding round, the Excellence Commission selected a total of 70 Clusters of Excellence for funding in a two-stage process in May 2025. Clusters of Excellence are generally funded for two periods of seven years, after which new applications are also possible, even in the same thematic research area.

The Cluster of Excellence funding line is administered by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The clusters of excellence applied for by universities form alliances of outstanding scientists who work together in a specific research area. By facilitating a wide range of cooperation opportunities and providing research infrastructures, the Clusters of Excellence offer outstanding conditions for excellent research.

“We would like to congratulate our excellent researchers and thank all those who have made this success possible with their perseverance and continuous dedication. The University of Hohenheim is now playing in the top tier of German research!”

Julia Fritz-Steuber, Vice President for Research, Early Career Researchers, and Transfer

Cluster of Excellence gets green light for full application!

The German Research Foundation (DFG) has announced funding for the “GreenRobust” Cluster of Excellence at the Universities of Tübingen, Heidelberg, and Hohenheim. Hohenheim is also significantly involved in the “TERRA” cluster at the University of Tübingen with staff and important infrastructure. The IntCDC cluster at the University of Stuttgart has been extended – including Hohenheim expertise.

To the article

Cluster with Hohenheim participation

GreenRobust: Understanding Robustness of Plant Systems from Molecules to Ecosystems

Joint cluster application by the Universities of Tübingen, Heidelberg, and Hohenheim. The cluster is dedicated to the question of how plants can remain functional despite environmental stress and how agricultural productivity can be maintained in the face of climate change and the increasing threat of pests.

TERRA: Terrestrial Geo-Biosphere Interactions in a Changing World

The cluster at the University of Tübingen, with the participation of Hohenheim researchers and centrally important research infrastructure, is investigating the complex interactions between soil structures and biodiversity.

IntCDC: Integrative computational design and construction for architecture

A cluster at the University of Stuttgart with the participation of Professor Franziska Schünemann from Hohenheim:
The aim is to enable ground-breaking innovations in the construction sector that can be only achieved through highly integrative basic research in an interdisciplinary, large-scale research project. To this end, the full potential of digital technologies will be used to rethink design, production, and construction on the basis of integration and interdisciplinarity.

To the project website