Success for RWTH

The Joint Science Conference of the Federal and State Governments has announced that RWTH’s research initiatives within the established Clusters of Excellence ML4Q und FSC², as well as the new Cluster initiative CARE, have been selected for funding. With this success, RWTH is now eligible to apply for further support under the University of Excellence program.

Environmentally friendly liquid fuels, quantum computing, and sustainable construction – three of RWTH’s proposed cluster proposals addressing these major challenges have been successful in the latest round of the Excellence Strategy competition held by the German federal and state governments. This outcome was just announced by the newly appointed chairman of the Joint Science Conference (GWK) of the German Federal and State Governments, Lower Saxony’s Minister of Science Falko Mohrs (SPD). “This is a strong achievement for RWTH and a testament to our innovative capacity. The funded topics also reflect both our research profile and our commitment to sustainability. We have always had confidence in the strength of our researchers and their ideas, and we are delighted that our teams can now put their plans into action. The work that went into preparing these proposals over the past few years has been tremendous,” said Professor Ulrich Rüdiger, Rector of RWTH.

The success of the three Clusters – each vetted by international experts in recent months – positions RWTH to take the next step: an application for continued University of Excellence status. “We have critically reflected on our progress as a University of Excellence and are excited to continue building on it. Our triad of knowledge, impact, and networks – meaning the creation of new knowledge, its application to societal challenges, and the forging of strong partnerships – remains central to our vision and is now more important than ever.”

The cluster evaluation marked the first phase of this process, with 70 proposals from 43 universities receiving approval. A total of 98 cluster initiatives – 57 existing and 41 new – competed in the selection process. Three RWTH cluster proposals were approved for funding: Integrated Fuel & Chemical Science Center (FSC²), Matter and Light for Quantum Computing (ML4Q), and Climate-Neutral and Resource-Efficient Construction (CARE). CARE is a new initiative in partnership with TUD Dresden University of Technology, while FSC² and ML4Q – a collaboration with the Universities of Bonn and Cologne – are existing initiatives. RWTH participated in a total of five applications, including three follow-up proposals for existing Clusters.

Mixed Feelings

However, Rector Rüdiger expressed mixed feelings about the outcome, noting that the Cluster “Internet of Production” (IoP) – active since 2006 – will not receive continued funding, and that the Cluster initiative “Transformative Medical Materials: Design, Production, Translation (TransMedMat)” did also not advance in the competition.

“Reaching this final round alone was a significant achievement for our researchers and highlights both the strength of our research and our commitment to addressing critical issues. We remain dedicated to advancing all research areas from the competition – including those not selected at this stage – with continued focus and intensity. Our proposals were never short-term projects but part of a long-term vision. We will build on the momentum they have created and unlock the potential within each of these proposals.”

In November 2022, the federal and state governments renewed their commitment to the Excellence Strategy, a program to elevate higher education by challenging universities to lead in scientific excellence, define bold strategic profiles, and forge powerful collaborations across institutions.

Building on the first Clusters of Excellence competition under the Excellence Strategy, the second round launched at a significantly larger scale. Following a decision by the Joint Science Conference (GWK) in November 2022, the number of funded Clusters increased from 57 to 70, and the annual budget has grown from €385 million to €539 million. A minimum of two funded Clusters of Excellence (or three in the case of university alliances) is now a prerequisite for eligibility in the subsequent second “Universities of Excellence” funding line. Decisions for this line will be announced in 2026, with funding commencing January 1, 2027.

The successful applications in detail:

For a World Without Fossil Fuels

Creating a world without fossil fuels requires innovative technologies that can produce and utilize environmentally friendly liquid energy sources and chemical products. These new energy carriers combine renewable energy with sustainable raw materials and are particularly valuable in the transportation sector, where electrification remains a major challenge. They also play a key role in the sustainable production of chemicals essential to food, healthcare, and economic well-being. At the heart of this transformation is the Integrated Fuel & Chemical Science Center (FSC²) Cluster of Excellence, which is developing cutting-edge solutions to convert renewable resources into liquid fuels and chemicals, collectively known as Bio-Hybrid Fuels and Chemicals. These solutions combine renewable electricity with feedstocks sourced from the air, biomass, or industrial processes. One example is ammonia, which is being explored both as an energy storage medium and a key chemical building block.

“Our systematic approach covers the entire value chain – from production to application – and considers scientific, engineering, economic, and social perspectives,” explains Professor Stefan Pischinger, spokesperson for the Cluster. In collaboration with its strategic partners – Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion (MPI CEC) – FSC² is establishing an integrated research center within the University’s Energy, Chemical and Process Engineering Profile Area. The co-spokesperson for the cluster is Professor Walter Leitner, director at MPI CEC.

FSC² is developing new methods to produce fuels and chemicals through a comprehensive approach that spans from individual molecules to entire supply chains. What sets the FSC² Cluster of Excellence apart is its strong relevance to global challenges – climate change, energy security, chemical production, and mobility – as well as its interdisciplinary foundation. The cluster unites expertise from fields such as chemistry, engineering, and the social sciences to drive sustainable innovation forward.

ML4Q: Quantum Research for the Computers of the Future

Quantum computing offers the potential for unprecedented computational capabilities, far surpassing those of classical systems. This emerging form of information processing could revolutionize domains such as materials science, pharmaceutical development, and artificial intelligence. However, realizing its full promise depends on key technological advances: the development of fast, robust quantum bits; scalable modular architectures; and next-generation quantum software. The Cluster of Excellence unites leading experts in three key disciplines of physics – solid-state research, quantum optics, and quantum information science – to accelerate progress across four foundational platforms of current quantum information technology.

The Cluster of Excellence is a joint initiative involving the University of Cologne, the University of Bonn, RWTH, and Forschungszentrum Jülich, with the University of Cologne serving as the lead institution. “Our goal is to systematically evaluate which quantum technologies are viable in the long term and explore novel pathways in quantum information processing,” explained physicist Professor Hendrik Bluhm, spokesperson for the Cluster at RWTH. The co-spokesperson at RWTH is Professor Christoph Stampfer. “While many long-horizon applications that could fundamentally revolutionize the industry remain high-risk and speculative, ML4Q focuses on bridging fundamental research (in our respective fields) with application-driven efforts. By partnering with industry and non-university research institutions, we create synergies that help translate scientific insight into tangible technologies,” explained Bluhm.

The Future of Construction

To meet climate targets and effectively address global warming while also tackling the urgent demands for housing and infrastructure, the construction sector must undergo a fundamental transformation. The proposed Cluster of Excellence “Climate-Neutral and Resource-Efficient Construction” (CARE), based at RWTH and TUD Dresden University of Technology, aims to catalyze this shift. “We are developing innovative building materials, novel design principles, and advanced manufacturing methods to establish viable pathways toward climate-friendly and sustainable construction,” said Professor Martin Claßen, head of the Institute for Structural Concrete at RWTH. Alongside Professor Viktor Mechtcherine from TUD, Claßen serves as cluster spokesperson.

The goal is to develop holistic solutions that can be quickly put into practice in the construction industry. Shifting away from today’s environmentally harmful and resource-intensive building methods toward construction that is ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable also means ensuring that buildings and infrastructure are resilient to the impacts of climate change. To meet this challenge, the cluster seeks to drive holistic change across the three foundational pillars of construction: building materials, design principles, and manufacturing technologies. Two cross-cutting themes – digital technologies and sustainability metrics – will enable systemic innovation and foster interconnection across disciplines. CARE aspires to deliver transformative advances across all five thematic areas. head of the Institute of Structural Concrete and spokesperson for the RWTH Cluster.

– Authors: Thorsten Karbach, Niels Knippertz