idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft
Great success for the University and the city of Hamburg as a hub of scientific pursuit: The University of Hamburg will continue to carry the University of Excellence title for the next 7 years. As such, it remains one of only a few universities in Germany to receive this significant funding. The funds will be used to continue and further develop existing projects, thus strengthening research and research infrastructure, studies and teaching, knowledge exchange within society, and the twin transformation toward more digitalization and sustainability.
Dr. Peter Tschentscher, mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: “Hamburg is a strong hub of science and research in northern Germany—with around 20 universities, more than 30 nonuniversity research institutions, and 4 major innovation centers. Today, the University of Hamburg has had its University of Excellence status confirmed. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved. Over the past few years, you have renewed the University from within and put it on the right track as the flagship institution of Hamburg’s scientific landscape. I wish the University and the researchers involved in the clusters of excellence continued success and all the best.”
Maryam Blumenthal, Senator for Science, Research and Equality: “We are still excellent! This second conferment of the University of Excellence title is a huge success for the University of Hamburg and sends a strong signal for our Hamburg as a home for research. In the previous 7 years, the University’s staff have delivered extraordinary work, in research and teaching, in knowledge exchange, and internationalization as well as in expanding their research structures. With its twin transformation concept to increase sustainability and digitalization, it has also set a unique benchmark among the league of Universities of Excellence. This success is the result of shared hard work, clever strategies, and real teamwork. We are very proud of our flagship University and the whole city is celebrating for you!”
Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren, president of the University of Hamburg: “We did it! The University of Hamburg has once again been awarded the University of Excellence title—with an enhanced profile that focuses on sustainability and digitalization as transformative drivers of research, teaching, and knowledge exchange. The international panel of evaluators certified our University’s outstanding development and noticeable cultural change. This success belongs to everyone who researches, teaches, studies, and works at the University. It comes at a time when the basic funding of our universities is under considerable pressure, which makes it all the more important for us as a university and for policymakers.”
Back in May 2025, the University of Hamburg’s 4 existing clusters of excellence in astrophysics, climate research, photon science, and the study of written artifacts were awarded a further funding period. Two of these clusters in the first funding line are a prerequisite for the status as a University of Excellence in the second funding line.
The University successfully applied for this second funding line for the first time in 2018. Numerous measures were implemented with the funds awarded at that time: twelve additional professorships were created; new centers for sustainability, digitalization, and knowledge exchange were established; and a wide range of projects by researchers at all career levels and students from all faculties were funded. The implementation of the measures was monitored by high-caliber advisory bodies with international members.
Following an intensive assessment and the decision by the Excellence Commission, the funding has been extended for the period 2027–2033. Under its motto “Innovating and cooperating for a sustainable future in a digital age,” the University of Hamburg will focus even more strongly on the twin transformation in the future. This combines sustainability and digitalization as central, University-wide, cross-sectoral tasks.
Find further information on all projects within the framework of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments on the University of Hamburg website: https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/exzellenz.html
Queries:
Alexander Lemonakis
University of Hamburg
Press officer for the president
Tel: +49 151 1914 1646
Email: alexander.lemonakis@uni-hamburg.de
https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/exzellenz.html Further information on all projects at the University of Hamburg within the framework of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments
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