TU Dresden remains a University of Excellence

The Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) can continue to bear the title of University of Excellence. This means that it will continue to receive financial support from the federal and state governments in the coming years as part of the Excellence Strategy. The decision was announced by the Science Council and the German Research Foundation after a meeting of the Excellence Commission.

The news was met with jubilation in Dresden. "The renewed confirmation of the TUD as a University of Excellence is an outstanding recognition of the development that we have been driving forward for more than a decade," said Rector Ursula Staudinger and thanked all members of the TUD community. "We can and should be proud of this outstanding achievement together."

Kretschmer praises Dresden as a world-class university location

The head of the Saxon government, Michael Kretschmer (CDU), spoke of a "terrific success". "In addition to the associated funding, the University of Excellence Dresden is consolidating its reputation as a world-class university location. This is the result of persistent, hard work in recent years as well as a consistent interdisciplinary and international focus."

"Outstanding research is indeed a key driver for our Free State. It attracts talent from all over the world, strengthens the innovative power of our companies and acts as a catalyst for new investments and relocations," emphasized Kretschmer. Dresden impressively demonstrates how cutting-edge research, strong universities and a powerful economy work together.

Title of University of Excellence must be confirmed every seven years

The Technische Universität Dresden has already been successful in the Excellence Initiative before. It was awarded its first Cluster of Excellence in 2006. In 2012, it was awarded the title of University of Excellence for the first time. Since 2019, the university has been permanently funded as a University of Excellence. As such, it must undergo an evaluation every seven years.

The evaluation checks whether the requirements for funding continue to be met. Ten locations are currently involved. Following the decision on the continued funding of the existing institutions, the process will begin for universities or alliances that submit a new application for funding. This decision is to be announced on October 2.

Six Clusters of Excellence at Saxon Universities

Saxony was able to increase the number of clusters from three to six in the last round of the Excellence Initiative and thus occupies a leading position in the nationwide ranking. In addition to three previously funded Clusters of Excellence, TU Dresden was able to establish two new ones, while Leipzig was successful for the first time.

From 2026, around 200 million euros in federal funding will flow to Saxony for the six Clusters of Excellence over a period of seven years. The Free State of Saxony has already pledged co-financing. Clusters of Excellence are also important because they attract top researchers from all over the world. The proportion of international researchers in the clusters is on average twice as high as in other areas, it said.