The presidents of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Freie Universität Berlin and the Chief Executive Officer of Charité have agreed to pursue a joint application initiative as part of the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments as a basic principle. By doing this, Berlin – one of the most important sites of scholarly endeavor and research in Germany – will seize its opportunities to strengthen its position at the forefront of this sector in Europe. Berlin’s universities are extraordinarily strong in terms of research and have an international reputation for excellence. Their efforts to support junior scholars and scientists are exemplary in many ways, and their external fundraising has risen steadily in recent years, a sign of superior performance. The universities in Berlin already achieve many of their successes through cooperative initiatives today, whether in the form of joint graduate schools, clusters, or collaborative research centers. When they agree to a co-organized application under the Excellence Strategy to promote Berlin as a location of top-level research, they do so in the firm conviction that this will establish optimum conditions for success in the international competition to attract and retain the best scholars and scientists, students, and ideas.