Overview

• The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Exzellenzkommission will select up to 70 interdisciplinary research clusters from 98 proposals submitted by 47 universities.
• Clusters chosen will receive €687 million annually from 2026 for seven years, with funding split 75% federally and 25% by states.
• Berlin leads the competition with ten cluster proposals, while Hesse has seven and Bavaria fields multiple bids, including from its two existing Exzellenzuniversitäten in Munich.
• Despite widespread budget cuts in many regions, Berlin's cluster funding commitments remain fully secured, ensuring stability for its bids.
• The program emphasizes interdisciplinary research and institutional prestige, with results expected to shape Germany's academic landscape significantly.