Germany's only University Consortia of Excellence – The Berlin University Alliance
Source: https://www.tu.berlin/en/berlin-university-alliance/exzellence-strategy/university-consortia-of-excellence Parent: https://www.tu.berlin/en/studying
The good news arrived at 16:13 on 19 July 2019. Former Federal Minister of Education and Research Anja Karliczek announced the results of the Excellence Strategy competition of the federal government and states. This was the first year Technische Universität Berlin was awarded the title of excellence – in a consortium together with Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
As the Berlin University Alliance, the four partners have been implementing their concept “Crossing Boundaries toward an Integrated Research Environment” since 1 November 2019. Their goal: to shape and develop the science hub of Berlin into an integrated research area. Their collaboration centers on joint research into grand social challenges, strengthening exchange with society, advancement of junior scholars, questions regarding the quality and value of research, and comprehensive projects in the areas of research infrastructure, teaching, diversity, equality of opportunity, and internationalization.
The Berlin University Alliance is one of a kind in Germany.
© Janine Rülicke-Ahrens
By forming the Berlin University Alliance, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have set themselves the long-term goal of jointly creating and shaping an integrated research area in Berlin.
Across individual networks, institutions, and disciplines, the Alliance aims to become the heart and driving force of an excellent Berlin "ecosystem" made up of universities and non-university research institutions, scientific collections, museums, cultural and political institutions, and start-ups and partners from industry.
The Berlin University Alliance has set itself five goals:
- The development of a Berlin-wide agenda for joint research on globally significant social challenges (Focusing on Grand Challenges)
- Setup and promotion of a network for multidirectional research and knowledge transfer with Berlin at the center (Fostering Knowledge Exchange)
- Pooling expertise available in Berlin to evaluate and develop general standards for quality and value of research (Advancing Research Quality and Value)
- Setup of an integrated career and recruitment area for outstanding scientists (Promoting Talent)
- Creation of a Berlin-wide network for research services and infrastructures (Sharing Resources)
The foundation of the Berlin University Alliance was driven by three significant factors:
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Berlin’s unique potential for a far-reaching culture of scientific cooperation
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Conviction that the Alliance will significantly increase opportunities and chances for the individual partners
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Contribution of the Berlin University Alliance to strengthening the research of the individual partner universities, sharpening their profile, and enabling them to strategically orient themselves
Additionally, three overarching cross-sectional topics will be taken up:
- joint promotion of Diversity and Gender Equality
- research-based Teaching and Learning
- processes for strategic Internationalization
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Further Information
Anika Rehder
Director of Task Force Excellence Strategy
| Room | H 1045/1046 |
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Goal 1: Focusing on Grand Challenges
Grand Challenge Initiatives form the thematic framework for the development of research agendas within the Berlin University Alliance. The topics are based on the research focuses of the Alliance and the potential resulting from the establishment of these scientifically excellent areas in the integrated research area of Berlin. Flexible Exploration Projects and the Office for Grand Challenge Initiatives will develop new tailor-made formats to support research networks and projects.
Additionally, Grand Challenge Initiatives will receive substantial funding for project development within Einstein Research Units and for the appointment of top international researchers, Einstein Strategic Professorships, which will be funded by the State of Berlin through the Einstein Foundation Berlin. The overarching goal of all the projects is the establishment of dynamic, cross-institutional research platforms that systematically stimulate and advance exchange between scientists from different institutions and disciplines.
Goal 2: Fostering Knowledge Exchange
The Berlin University Alliance defines Knowledge Exchange as a multidirectional process through which ideas and research results are communicated to the outside and external perspectives and experiences are integrated back into research. By bringing together areas which are particularly strong in research beyond institutional boundaries and jointly using existing cooperations in politics and with cultural institutions, companies, and other areas of society, the Alliance partners aim to improve both the quality and quantity of this process of exchange.
An Expertise and Knowledge Exchange Office will support the establishment of new formats to help jointly promote innovation processes through exchange between scientists and experts in different social areas beyond the university . Transdisciplinary working groups will address topic areas in top-level research in Berlin together in Research Forums. Interactive events, targeted use of new media and (media) trainings for scientists will strengthen joint Science Communication and public interest in science and research.
Goal 3: Advancing Research Quality and Value
The Berlin University Alliance is pursuing a joint strategy to develop and facilitate the value, quality, integrity, and credibility of science. To achieve its goal, the Berlin University Alliance will establish a Center for Open and Responsible Research (CORe), in which the different scientific expertise of the Alliance partners will be combined to create elements and guidelines for the development and construction of a research governance based on value. This will be supplemented with research activities within the topic area Research and Reflection on Research Quality (R3Q).
In R3Q, research groups will address questions on the quality and value of research as well as test the implementation of new measures, thus creating a new platform for scientists beyond their subject fields. The Berlin OpenX Initiative will create and support incentives for openness and transparency in research to contribute to the development of a new error culture in science.
Goal 4: Promoting Talent
The future success of the Berlin University Alliance will significantly depend on its ability to attract the best researchers at all career stages and to provide them with optimal support so as to retain them. For this purpose, the Alliance partners will create an integrated career and recruitment measure. Berlin Graduate Studies Support will unify training for doctoral candidates. Furthermore, the Alliance wishes to particularly support and promote postdocs (Postdoctoral Career Development), for instance by awarding Career Development Awards and establishing joint Junior Research Groups. In order to support promising researchers, the Alliance partners will also establish attractive joint tenure track professorships (W2).
Berlin Recruitment Services will optimize recruitment standards and processes while taking diversity and equality of opportunity into consideration. A joint Berlin Leadership Academy will enable experienced researchers and science managers to strengthen their management skills and prepare them for management responsibilities.
Goal 5: Sharing Resources
Access to excellent infrastructure is a critical competitive factor for supporting research and recruiting outstanding scientists. In order to optimally use existing resources and more efficiently plan new projects together, the Shared Resources Center (SOURCE) will provide transparent information and access to the complex research infrastructure and information services of the four Alliance partners.
SOURCE offers scientists “one-stop” access to large equipment and IT resources as well as support in the areas of research data management and open access publications. The accompanying Research Infrastructure-related Community Building will improve access to modern research infrastructure and increase support services to strengthen interdisciplinary research groups within the excellent research infrastructure.
© Felix Noak
The call for proposals for the second competition round of the Universities of Excellence funding line was published on 28 March 2024. This marked the official start of the application process. Up to four additional universities or university consortia can be included in the funding line, if successful. Other spots might also become available if universities drop out of the funding line. Individual universities must have acquired funding for at least two Clusters of Excellence to apply. Consortia must have secured funding for at least three Clusters of Excellence. The German Science and Humanities Council is responsible for organizing and conducting the selection process.
Förderlinie Exzellenzuniversitäten
2025
Funding decision for Clusters of Excellence by the Excellence Commission
- May 2025
Deadline for letters of intent for new proposals
- June 2025
Deadline for self-assessment reports
- August 2025
Start of on-site visits for the evaluation process
- September 2025
On-site visits for the evaluation process are scheduled for the end of September to December 2025
Deadline for new proposals
- November 2025
End of on-site visits for the evaluation process
- December 2025
On-site visits for the evaluation process are scheduled for the end of September to December 2025
2026
Assessment of evaluation results by the Committee of Experts and submission of a recommendation to the Excellence Commission
- March 2026
Assessment of evaluation results by the Committee of Experts and submission of a recommendation to the Excellence Commission
- March 2026
Start of on-site visits for new proposals
- March 2026
On-site visits for new proposals are scheduled for March to July 2026
End of on-site visits for new proposals
- July 2026
On-site visits for new proposals are scheduled for March to July 2026
Funding decision on new proposals by the Excellence Commission
- September 2026
Funding decision on new proposals by the Excellence Commission
- September 2026
Funding decision on new proposals by the Excellence Commission
- October 2026
Funding decision on new proposals by the Excellence Commission
- October 2026
2027
Start of funding for Universities of Excellence
- January 2027