Welcome to the website of the German Council of Science and Humanities about the Excellence Initiative of the German Federal Government and the state governments.

Aims of the Excellence Initiative

The Excellence Initiative of the German Federal Government and the state governments promotes excellent research in German universities. The Excellence Initiative aims to

• support top-level university research and improve its international visibility

• create excellent conditions for young scientists at universities

• deepen cooperation between disciplines and institutions

• strengthen international research cooperation

• promote equal opportunities for men and women in research

• intensify scientific and academic competition and improve the general standard of science and universities in Germany.

The programme

The Excellence Initiative is conducted by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Council of Science and Humanities (WR). It includes three lines of funding:

1. 1. Graduate Schools, to foster young researchers

2. 2. Clusters of Excellence, for the promotion of top-level research

3. 3. Institutional Strategies, to advance top-level university research.

The WR is responsible for the third line of funding, while the DFG is in charge of the first and second lines of funding. A total of Euro 1.9 bn was granted for the three lines in two funding rounds in 2006 and 2007. These funds will be available for the universities and their partner institutions for research and the promotion of young researchers until 2012.

The German Federal Government and the state governments decided to continue the Excellence Initiative on 4 June 2009. A total of Euro 2.7 bn will be available for the second phase from 2012-2017.

Apart from very few modifications the structure of the program with its three funding lines will remain the same. The next call for proposals will follow in 2010; funding decisions will be made in 2012.

Information about the detailed schedule and procedures will be issued by the German Council of Science and Humanities and the German Research Foundation, in due course.

Selection commissions

The DFG and the WR formed a Joint Commission, which is composed of an Expert Commission (DFG) and a Strategy Commission (WR).

Members of the Joint Commission

Funding decisions are taken by the Excellence Initiative Grants Committee, which is composed of the Joint Commission and the science ministers of the German Federal Government and the state governments. The members of the Joint Commission have the majority of votes on the Grants Committee.

Commissions of the Excellence Initiative

The three lines of funding

This website offers detailed information on the Institutional Strategies line of funding.

Contact for the Excellence Initiative at the Head Office of the German Council of Science and Humanities:

Dr. Sabine Behrenbeck,
Tel: +49 221 3776-263,
E-Mail: behrenbeck@wissenschaftsrat.de.

Further information on the Graduate Schools and Clusters of Excellence lines of funding can be found on the DFG website.