The German Excellence Initiative promotes top-level research in Germany through three funding lines: Graduate Schools, Clusters of Excellence, and Institutional Strategies. Launched in 2005 with €1.9 billion and renewed in 2009 with €2.7 billion, it aims to strengthen German universities, enhance Germany's attractiveness as a research location, and increase its international competitiveness and visibility in science and humanities. It has created over 4,000 new academic positions across 37 Graduate Schools, 37 Clusters of Excellence and 9 universities with Institutional Strategies.

1. The German Excellence Initiative
Destination Europe Conference / Matthias Kleiner
Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 20, 2012

2. The DFG
Germany’s largest research funding organisation
The DFG
► serves all branches of science and the humanities
by funding research projects and facilitating cooperation
among researchers
► supports the education and advancement of young
scientific researchers
► promotes equality between men and women
► advises parliaments and public authorities on
scientific matters
► fosters relations between research and the private
sector and between scientists and academics at
home and abroad
Destination Europe Conference / Matthias Kleiner
Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 20, 2012

3. The German Excellence Initiative
The Excellence Initiative
► promotes top-level research in Germany
► was launched in 2005
(total budget: € 1.9 million)
► received renewal approval in 2009
(Second Phase from 2012 – 2017;
total budget: € 2.7 million)
► is coordinated by the DFG and the German Council
of Science and Humanities
► is financed jointly by the German federal government
(75%) and the states (25%)
Destination Europe Conference / Matthias Kleiner
Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 20, 2012

4. The German Excellence Initiative
The Excellence Initiative aims to
► strengthen German universities and departments
► enhance Germany’s attraction as a research location
► Increase Germany’s international competitiveness
and visibility in all fields of science and the humanities
► Establish centres of excellence and raise the overall
quality of German universities
Three funding lines
► 39 Graduate Schools (Highest level research training)
► 37 Clusters of Excellence (Centres of excellence in research)
► 9 Institutional Strategies
(Increase international competitive ability of the entire university)
Destination Europe Conference / Matthias Kleiner
Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 20, 2012

5. Impacts of the Excellence Initiative (First Phase)
Approx. 4,000 new positions were created
► EXC and GSC:
~ 2,200 doctoral positions
~ 660 positions for postdocs
~ 70 junior professorships
~ 110 senior professorships
► Institutional Strategies:
~ 850 positions for early career researchers
(doctoral level to group leader)
~ 145 junior & senior professorships
[February 2009]
Destination Europe Conference / Matthias Kleiner
Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 20, 2012

6. Evaluation and Decision-Making Process 2
Three Funding Lines: GSC, EXC, IS
GSC Submission of Full Proposals
IS
ESC Initial & Renewal Proposals
Sept. 1st, 2011
37 Panels Evaluation Groups
1stand 2nd Line 16 Site Visits
Evaluation
63 GSC & 64 EXC 3 rd Line: Institutional Strategies
Nov. 11 – March 12
Expert Commission Preparation of the Selection Strategic Commission
Joint Commission Recommendations for all 3 Funding Lines
Excellence Initiative Grant Committee Decision
Announcement of the Decision, June 15, 2012
DFG

7. Further Excellence Initiatives in Europe and Israel
The Center of Excellence (CoE) program
Denmark
Investissements d´Avenir
France
Excelencia Internacional / CEI
Spain
Israeli Centers of Research Excellence (I-CORE)
Israel
Destination Europe Conference / Matthias Kleiner
Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 20, 2012

8. What are the DFG’s objectives in funding top young talent?
The DFG’s promotion of young researchers aims to ensure that outstanding scientists
► From all scientific disciplines are supported
► From Germany are retained and that those from abroad
are attracted
► Have the freedom they require to perform excellent
research
► Are supported by first-class research environments
► Are equipped with the necessary resources for their
projects
Destination Europe Conference / Matthias Kleiner
Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 20, 2012

9. What are the DFG’s objectives in funding top young talent?
To offer researchers appropriate funding options at each career stage
Achievement of Preparation for Professorship
Studies Doctorate Postdoc Period eligibility for scientific mgmt or other scientific
tenure position mgmt position
Emmy Noether Heisenberg
Programme professorship
Heisenberg
fellowship
Research Research Research
Research Training
fellowship fellowship fellowship
Group fellowship
(abroad) (abroad) (abroad)
Research in a Temp. principal Temp. principal Temp. principal
Research Training
Research Training investigator investigator investigator
Group position
Group position (Germany) position (Germany) position (Germany)
Student assistant Position in Position in Position in Position in
in DFG project DFG project DFG project DFG project DFG project
Destination Europe Conference / Matthias Kleiner
Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 20, 2012

10. For more information
► on the initiative’s projects: www.excellence-initiative.com
► on the DFG: www.dfg.de
► on DFG-funded projects: www.dfg.de/gepris/
► on over 17,000 German research institutes: www.dfg.de/rex
Destination Europe Conference / Matthias Kleiner
Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 20, 2012

11. The German Excellence Initiative
Clusters of Excellence – 4 Examples
Bonn U: Mathematics: Foundations, Models, Applications
► series of thematic priorities, multidisciplinarity
► cooperation of international visiting professors with colleagues in Bonn e.g.:
G. Faltings (Fields-Medal), R. Selten (Nobel prize economics)
Aachen TH: Integrative Production Dresden TU: From Cells to
Technology for High-Wage Countries Tissues to Therapies
► researching the conditions for the ► research on human stem
successful production in high-wage Bonn U cells for controlled
Dresden TU
countries Aachen TH regeneration
► building on the existing technology ► develop new therapies in
roadmap, incorporating business and the fight against
industry cases with partner companies Alzheimer’s, Diabetes and
Konstanz U
Parkinson’s
Konstanz U: Cultural Foundations of Social Integration
► social integration and disintegration on all social strata
► the cluster offers scholarly exchange on a cross-disciplinary basis
Destination Europe Conference / Matthias Kleiner
Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 20, 2012