Financial aid and opportunity for admission at prestigious universities in the northwestern region - Large-scale financial investments and potential formation of high-ranking alliances in the Northwestern region.
Northwest German Universities Secure Millions in Funding and Pursue Elite Status
Numerous universities in northwest Germany are celebrating the allocation of substantial funding in the millions. The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and the Wissenschaftsrat (WR) in Bonn announced that specific research projects at university locations in Hannover, Bremen, Oldenburg, and Braunschweig have been selected as part of the Excellence Strategy.
The universities of Hannover, Oldenburg, and Bremen are now one step closer to becoming elite institutions, as they are eligible to apply as Excellence Universities in the next stage. These institutions have successfully secured two of the funded Excellence Clusters, with Leibniz University and the Medical School Hannover, the University of Oldenburg, and the University of Bremen at the forefront. Lower Saxony's Minister of Science, Falko Mohrs (SPD), expressed optimism about the prospect of having at least one Excellence University in Lower Saxony.
In the current round of competition, six research projects involving Lower Saxony were selected for funding. Notably, the University of Bremen successfully obtained funding for two Excellence Clusters for the first time. Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte warmly greeted this achievement, describing it as a monumental success for the city's scientific community.
Conversely, the University of Göttingen felt a sense of disappointment as their last application failed in the current round. The University Medicine Göttingen (UMG) expressed disbelief, claiming the decision was surprising and difficult to comprehend.
Successful acquisition of Clusters of Excellence funding and strong regional cooperation are key requirements for universities in Lower Saxony and Bremen to achieve the status of Excellence Universities. The University of Bremen and the University of Oldenburg, collaborating as part of the Northwest Alliance, are working together to present a joint vision for excellence that incorporates institutional projects at both universities.
The Excellence University competition mandates the submission of visionary and strategic applications that demonstrate a university's development and research profile. These applications, expected to be submitted in November, will be reviewed in the following spring, and a decision will be made by fall 2026. Universities in Lower Saxony and Bremen aspire to not only excel in top-tier research but also contribute significantly to regional and national innovation ecosystems, fulfilling the standards of the Excellence Strategy.
The universities in Lower Saxony and Bremen are diligently working towards their vision of becoming Excellence Universities, as they plan to leverage the funding from the Excellence Clusters in their strategic applications. To achieve this, they are focusing on vocational training initiatives, areas of education and self-development that align with the Excellence Strategy's standards, and collaborate on regional finance management to establish innovative ecosystems.
The universities in Lower Saxony and Bremen are convinced that, through their efforts in vocational training, education, and collaboration, they will not only attain elite status but also make substantial contributions to the local and national economy, in line with the requirements set by the Excellence Strategy.
