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.”
A network as a success factor
One of TU Dresden’s special strengths is its close cooperation with partners from academia and industry. The university works with numerous non-university research institutes in the DRESDEN-concept alliance and collaborates closely with the semiconductor industry as well as the biotechnology network BioSaxony.
Saxony’s Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow added that the excellence status extends far beyond the university itself: “The entire research landscape of Saxony benefits from this.” The next funding phase begins on January 1, 2027.
