Characteristics of Focus Areas

The successful Focus Areas at Freie Universität Berlin with bright prospects for the future share a number of key characteristics:

1. The participants are known for their academic and scientific excellence.

2. The topic is a current one, and there is a need for research and development in that area within the wider society.

3. The context in which the research will be conducted has good future prospects and will stand the test of time, and it has been integrated into the overall concept of the International Network University.

4. The approach taken to the research is unique and innovative in terms of both the issue addressed and the ways in which that issue is explored.

5. The Focus Area works together with cooperation partners from academia and other sectors (particularly in the Berlin-Brandenburg region).

6. The Focus Area maintains ties with the departments and the existing graduate schools at Freie Universität Berlin.

7. The Focus Area maintains a high international profile and is competitive at the international level.

8. There is functional coordination and management capacity available for the cluster.