70 Clusters of Excellence will be funded as of 2026, each with 3 to 10 million euros. Up to 15 universities or university consortia will be funded as of 2027. Universities can receive 10 to 15 million euros per year, university consortia 15 to 28 million euros.
Since January 2019, 57 Clusters of Excellence have been funded for an initial period of seven years. On February 1, 2024, the panel of experts had selected 41 draft proposals that could submit a full application for the funding phase from 2026. All previously funded Clusters of Excellence could submit renewal applications. Of the 70 Clusters of Excellence selected, 45 are renewals and 25 are new.
Since November 2019, eleven funding cases – ten individual universities and one consortium – have received funding from the Excellence Strategy in the “Universities of Excellence” funding line. The existing Universities/Consortia of Excellence will be evaluated in 2025/2026. If Universities of Excellence that have already received funding do not reach the required number of Clusters of Excellence or are assessed negatively in the evaluation at the end of 2025, the vacant places can be filled. The vacancies will be filled as part of the planned call for up to four new applications.