TU Dresden retains its status as a University of Excellence

In Germany’s academic system, only a few universities hold the title “University of Excellence.” On March 11, 2026, the German Council of Science and Humanities and the German Research Foundation (DFG) announced that TU Dresden will remain one of the ten Universities of Excellence in Germany for the next seven years – as the only university in Eastern Germany.

International experts had previously conducted a comprehensive review of TU Dresden. Among other things, they assessed the university’s research performance, strategy and future plans. The result was clear. “The renewed confirmation of TU Dresden as a University of Excellence is an outstanding recognition of the development we have driven forward for more than a decade,” said TU Rector Prof. Ursula M. Staudinger. Saxony’s Minister-President Michael Kretschmer described the decision as a “tremendous success for TU Dresden and for Saxony as a location for innovation and technology.”

What excellence means in concrete terms

The title is not merely honorary. It brings funding, influence and international prestige. From January 2027, TU Dresden will receive between 10 and 15 million euros per year from the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments. The funding will support long-term research projects and new scientific structures.

A key foundation for this work are five Clusters of Excellence – large research alliances focusing on major future topics such as microelectronics, new materials, medicine and artificial intelligence. Today, TU Dresden is regarded as Germany’s most patent-active university, with successful spin-offs in fields such as robotics, microelectronics and biotechnology.