In the current round of the Excellence Strategy, Leibniz University Hannover has applied for continued funding for its three Clusters of Excellence: QuantumFrontiers, PhoenixD and Hearing4all. If two clusters are approved in May 2025, this will qualify the university to apply for University of Excellence status.
The Excellence Strategy is a funding programme financed by the German federal and state governments. It aims to support cutting-edge research at German universities in order to strengthen Germany’s role as a scientific and academic hub and increase its international competitiveness. The Excellence Strategy consists of two funding lines:
- Clusters of Excellence: Projects in internationally competitive research fields are funded for an initial period of seven years. Funding for subsequent periods is possible.
- Universities of Excellence: The Universities of Excellence funding line serves to strengthen individual universities or university consortia over the long-term – on the basis of successful Clusters of Excellence. In order to apply for University of Excellence status, a university must be a participant in at least two Clusters of Excellence.
Roadmap
Our Clusters of Excellence
PhoenixD
In the PhoenixD Cluster of Excellence, physicists, mechanical engineers, chemists, electrical engineers, computer scientists and mathematicians work together to develop optical precision systems, a key technology of the twentieth century. The goal is the creation of new, highly efficient manufacturing processes which will make high-performance optics affordable. Many new areas of application for the technical use of light are currently emerging – for example, in biomedical engineering, agriculture, and mechanical and automotive engineering.
QuantumFrontiers
The QuantumFrontiers Cluster of Excellence uses light and matter to extend the foundations and applications of metrology beyond the quantum frontier. The focus is on pushing the boundaries of what can be measured. The researchers from QuantumFrontiers use quantum effects to monitor water resources from space, study gravitational waves or develop the most precise clocks in the world. Nanotechnology and quantum physics are combined to carry out these highly sensitive measurements.
Hearing 4all
The Hearing4all Cluster of Excellence aims to improve hearing aids and cochlear implants. Its researchers are working to identify solutions for all types of hearing loss. The range of topics includes the improvement of hearing implants’ function and lifespan, auditory mid-brain implants, and the application of machine learning for diagnostics and innovative therapy concepts. LUH is a co-applicant in this cluster, which is led by the University of Oldenburg.
A look back: LUH in the competition for excellence
Since the beginning of the federal and state governments’ Excellence Initiative in 2006, LUH has been successfully represented in the competition with various clusters. The QUEST – Centre for Quantum Engineering and Space-Time Research Cluster of Excellence was funded from 2007 to 2014. Its research has continued since then in the form of the QUEST Leibniz Research School. The REBIRTH – From Regenerative Biology to Reconstructive Therapy Cluster of Excellence, which also included the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and other partners, was funded from 2006 to 2019. It led to the creation of a research centre which continues to exist today. The current Clusters of Excellence led by LUH, PhoenixD and QuantumFrontiers, have been funded since 2019. Hearing4all has been funded since 2012. Initially called the Excellence Initiative, the competition has been titled the Excellence Strategy since 2016.
