As large, collaborative research projects, Clusters of Excellence are intended to help strengthen universities in research-intensive and internationally competitive areas.

Clusters of Excellence provide researchers from various disciplines the opportunity to work together in high-impact fields. They receive funding for an initial period of seven years. In fact, new research projects can be developed within established Clusters, which receive annual funding of up to 10 million euros, even if those project ideas were not part of the original proposal, and instead emerged in the collaborative process.

The Clusters situated at Freie Universität speak to the university’s powerful research reputation as well as the strong ties between our university and researchers elsewhere in Berlin and beyond.