Clusters of Excellence
With four existing Clusters of Excellence and two full proposals, the University of Cologne is one of Germany's most successful universities in the Excellence Initiative.
The Clusters of Excellence are embedded in the university research structure of the Key Profile Areas, which bundle topics of high scientific and social relevance. They are characterized by research at the highest international level. The research is transdisciplinary and integrated into synergetic networks - both within the university and with non-university institutions such as Max Planck Institutes.
Funded clusters of excellence
CECAD - Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases
In times of an aging society, age-related diseases such as diabetes and obesity as well as kidney, skin and neurodegenerative diseases are on the rise. This poses major economic and social challenges to society. In the Cluster of Excellence CECAD, molecular and cellular mechanisms of aging are elucidated. The aim is to understand the molecular basis of aging processes and age-related diseases in order to define new approaches for their prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
CEPLAS - Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences
The growing world population, the increasing demand for food as well as anthropogenic climate change pose an enormous challenge for sustainable food production and ecosystem conservation, which is the focus of the Cluster of Excellence CEPLAS. The scientific goal of CEPLAS is to investigate the basis and interplay of complex plant traits that have an impact on adaptation to limited resources and yield.
ML4Q - Matter and Light for Quantum Computing
Quantum computers promise computing power that is many times higher compared to that of traditional computers. As a result, quantum computers can enable great benefits in very complex application fields such as materials research, pharmaceuticals or tap-proof communication. The Cluster of Excellence “Matter and Light for Quantum Computing” (ML4Q) is concerned with the fundamentals of this disruptive technology (ML4Q ).
ECONtribute - Markets & Public Policy
ECONtribute is the only Cluster of Excellence in economics in Germany and is a joint initiative of the Universities of Bonn and Cologne with the participation of the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods. ECONtribute conducts research on markets, focusing on the intersections of business, policy and society.
Cluster of Excellence initiatives
Sharing a Planet in Peril
Sharing a Planet in Peril (SAPP) is revolutionizing research on global environmental change by integrating humanities and social science approaches and working closely with partners from the Global South. It focuses on the topics of Sharing Landscapes, Sharing Climate and Sharing Nourishment to address key challenges of environmental change.
Our Dynamic Universe
The dynamic evolution of our Universe is regulated by nonlinear physical processes that occur on vastly different timescales, from fractions of a second to billions of years. How are they interconnected to shape the Universe? The proposed Cluster of Excellence “Our Dynamic Universe” (Dynaverse) will deliver a breakthrough in our physical understanding by addressing three core Astrophysical Research Challenges (ARCs).
Successful from the very beginning
In Germany, the University of Cologne is one of the seven most successful universities in the third funding period (in total, six universities have acquired four Clusters of Excellence and only one university has acquired more than four). It has been one of the funded universities since the start of the program in 2007.
Clusters of Excellence funding line
Clusters of Excellence are an essential component of the Excellence Strategy of the German Federal and State Governments for top university research. Since 2007, they have served to fund internationally competitive research fields at outstanding university locations.
The funding line Clusters of Excellence provides resources for cutting-edge research at German universities, which are primarily used to recruit top international researchers, to train early-career scholars and scientists, for research-related teaching and to build up infrastructures. Currently, 57 Clusters of Excellence are funded throughout Germany. The federal and state governments provide the German Research Foundation (DFG) with approximately 385 million euros per year for this purpose. The funding phase of the Clusters of Excellence is seven years.
Since 2007, the University of Cologne has become increasingly successful in this funding line: