Munich celebrates: LMU and TUM receive seven clusters of excellence!

Munich celebrates: LMU and TUM receive seven clusters of excellence!

In a significant achievement, the Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU) has received all seven clusters of excellence applied for as part of the federal and state excellence strategy. This was announced on May 22, 2025, and the funding will be awarded for seven years starting January 1, 2026. LMU President Prof. Dr. Bernd Huber highlights the university's breadth of expertise and the commitment of its researchers, while the future president, Prof. Matthias Tschöp, emphasizes the LMU's strategic vision and performance. Bavaria's Science Minister Markus Blume called the success “gigantic” and underlined Munich's role as a central location of excellence.

In addition to the new cluster applications, the number of Bavarian clusters doubles to twelve, as the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is also successful. All applications from the Bavarian universities were approved, and within this success TUM can boast three new clusters of excellence in the areas of nucleic acid research, biosystem design and social transformation through technologies. TUM is therefore well positioned in the excellence strategy of the federal and state governments and is continuing its previous success by receiving renewed funding for four existing clusters - in the areas of energy conversion, quantum technologies, neurological diseases and the creation of the universe.

Research priorities of the clusters of excellence

The LMU's approved clusters deal with particularly relevant research topics that address current social challenges. The focus areas include:

• Cross-Cultural Philology: Untersuchung von philologischen Praktiken über 5.000 Jahre mit dem Fokus auf kulturelles Verständnis.
• NUCLEATE: Forschung zu DNA- und RNA-Strukturen für medizinische Anwendungen, interdisziplinär aufgestellt.
• BioSysteM: Entwicklung biologischer Systeme nach ingenieurwissenschaftlichen Prinzipien, mit dem Ziel neuer medizinischer Anwendungen.
• MCQST: Forschung zu Quantenwissenschaften und -technologien, Förderung des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses.
• ORIGINS: Erforschung des Ursprungs des Lebens und des Universums in Zusammenarbeit mit mehreren Einrichtungen.
• SyNergy: Erforschung neurologischer Erkrankungen und Entwicklung neuer Therapien.
• e-conversion: Grundlagenforschung zur Energieumwandlung und Entwicklung nachhaltiger Lösungen.

The path to excellence

The Excellence Strategy was introduced in its current form in 2018, after a careful review by international panels. Out of 195 proposals, 88 were selected for funding. The LMU and TUM each submitted seven applications in this last selection process, with six of these applications being created in cooperation, which underlines the close cooperation between the two Munich universities.

The decision to support the clusters was seen as an important step in positioning Bavarian universities in an international comparison. In this context, Bavaria's Science Minister Markus Blume described Munich as a true “Mecca of Excellence”. The successes of the LMU and TUM are not only a benefit for the universities themselves, but also a positive impulse for the entire region, which will benefit from the innovative research results.

For more information see press releases from OTS, the TUM as well as the DFG.