Excellence StrategyHamburg Presents Roadmap and Goals for the Clusters of Excellence

7 April 2026, by Newsroom-Redaktion

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari

At the University of Hamburg, four clusters are receiving funding as part of the Excellence Strategy.

From climate research and quantum physics to manuscript and materials research: Hamburg was successful in the nationwide Excellence Strategy competition with no fewer than five clusters of excellence. Over the next seven years, they will receive approximately €266.4 million in federal funding. The Hamburg Senate will provide an additional €16.7 million in funding for the year 2026, as announced at a state press conference.

Together, Senator for Science Maryam Blumenthal, the President of the University of Hamburg, Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren, and Prof. Dr. Andreas Timm-Giel, President of the Hamburg University of Technology, presented the plans for the five successful clusters of excellence. CLICCS, CUI, Quantum Universe, UWA, and BlueMat will receive funding from 2026 to 2032—and represent a major success for the metropolitan region in the nationwide competition under the Excellence Strategy.

The Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments is one of the largest German funding programs for top-level research in Germany. Until 2025, €533 million were available annually; starting in 2026, this figure will rise to €687 million annually. Of this amount, the federal government contributes 75% and the states 25%. With these funds, the federal and state governments support top-level interdisciplinary research alliances, known as clusters of excellence, and award particularly successful universities the title of “University of Excellence.”

As early as 2018, four clusters at the University of Hamburg were selected by the German Research Foundation for this funding line. All clusters were extended for another funding phase in 2025. In the same year, the Hamburg University of Technology was successful with the “BlueMat” project—in which researchers from the University of Hamburg are also involved. The University of Hamburg also received the title of “University of Excellence” in 2019 and has since been the only university in northern Germany to bear this title. In March 2026, it was once again awarded the title.

“Clusters of Excellence Make Real Progress Possible”

Senator for Science Maryam Blumenthal: “How does writing shape our world? How do we develop the materials of tomorrow? What can we learn about our cosmos from the smallest particles and about History from written artifacts? And how do we solve the challenges surrounding climate change? Hamburg’s clusters of excellence demonstrate how science can shape the future: they find answers to the pressing questions of our time—and make real progress possible. This work is not abstract—it concretely changes how we will live tomorrow. Especially in politically and economically challenging times, this sends a strong signal: Hamburg is moving forward. We invest in knowledge, in innovation, and in the future—and are consistently advancing our position as a center of excellence.”

Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren, President of the University of Hamburg: “Four world-class clusters of excellence and €266 million for top-level research in Hamburg: This is an outstanding achievement for the University of Hamburg and for Hamburg as a center of science. This success has been achieved by the researchers who are doing extraordinary work in the clusters. Excellence requires a reliable foundation, and we are working together with the city to secure it."

Prof. Dr. Andreas Timm-Giel, president of the Hamburg University of Technology: “With BlueMat, the TUHH is sending a strong signal for top-level research made in Hamburg. The ambitious goal: to develop materials that, in interaction with water—the planet’s ubiquitous resource—unlock novel functionalities. The research within this cluster of excellence marks a milestone. It demonstrates how we develop genuine innovations for people and the environment. Thus, BlueMat is particularly aligned with the TUHH’s mission: Engineering to Face Climate Change.”