Outstanding Findings: These Groupings Registered Successful Outcomes - Exceptional study findings: these groupings have proven effective
Northwest Germany's Universities Showcase Strong Research in Elite Clusters
NEW Hanover and Bremen join the race for an elite university status, as seven exceptional research projects, known as excellence clusters, are set to receive funding in these states from the coming year.
In the nationwide competition, 70 excellence clusters were chosen from 98 applications, as announced by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Science Council (WR) in Bonn. This includes 45 ongoing projects and 25 fresh initiatives. The total funding for these clusters amounts to approximately €539 million annually.
The successful applications from Northwest Germany are detailed below:
- Hearing4All: A collaborative effort between the University of Oldenburg, the University of Hannover, and Hannover Medical School, this project focuses on understanding the causes of hearing loss and developing innovative technologies, artificial intelligence, and early warning devices for improved hearing aids.
- NaviSense: Presented by the University of Oldenburg, this project investigates the navigation techniques and senses used by animals over long distances, with the knowledge gained being applied for new technologies and environmental preservation.
- OceanFloor: A study by the University of Bremen and the University of Oldenburg, this project explores the seabed as a record of Earth's history and a central hub for physical, chemical, and biological processes influencing the climate. The focus is on fostering sustainable management of carbon and biodiversity.
- PhoenixD: This project from the University of Hannover delves into the development of optical systems that seamlessly connect hardware and software for precise light control, with potential applications in medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and energy-efficient telecommunications.
- QuantumFrontiers: Collaborating between the University of Hannover and TU Braunschweig, this project investigates new methods for highly precise measurements, aiming to create more accurate clocks and further establish the region as a hub for quantum technology.
- RESIST: Housed within Hannover Medical School, this cluster focuses on examining why some individuals are more susceptible to infectious diseases, with a goal to better protect vulnerable groups such as newborns and the elderly by studying genetic causes and immune reactions.
- Marsperspective: Conducted at the University of Bremen, this project uses the scarcity of resources and extreme conditions on Mars as a setting to develop efficient material extraction and processing methods, aiming to contribute to sustainable space exploration and stimulate the green transformation on Earth.
Other projects seeking funding as elite universities include Multiscale Bioimaging (Göttingen University Medicine), SE2A (TU Braunschweig), and R-CUBE (Hannover Medical School).
To qualify as an excellence university, at least two excellence clusters are required. Four universities in Northwest Germany – Hannover University, Hannover Medical School, Oldenburg University, and Bremen University – already fulfill this requirement, with at least 11 other universities nationwide pursuing this status.
Up to five new spots will be granted in early October 2026, with Oldenburg and Bremen planning to jointly apply as a consortium. A decision on the further funding of the current 10 excellence institutions will be made in March 2026, with funding for elite universities commencing on January 1, 2027.
- The Hearing4All project, a collaboration between the University of Oldenburg, the University of Hanover, and Hannover Medical School, focuses on using artificial intelligence and early warning devices for improved hearing aids, contributing to health-and-wellness and education-and-self-development.
- In the field of space-and-astronomy, the Marsperspective project at the University of Bremen seeks to develop efficient material extraction and processing methods for sustainable space exploration, potentially stimulating the green transformation on Earth and business opportunities.
- The NaviSense project, presented by the University of Oldenburg, investigates the navigation techniques and senses used by animals over long distances for new technologies and environmental preservation, connecting the sciences and business.
- The PhoenixD project from the University of Hannover aims to develop optical systems that seamlessly connect hardware and software for precise light control, with potential applications in various vocational training areas like medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and energy-efficient telecommunications, contributing to health-and-wellness, finance, and business.
