University of Hamburg - to research, to teach, to educate and form, to homepage

Excellence Strategy: Shaping the Future Together

The University of Hamburg enjoyed fivefold success in the Excellence Competition of the Federal and State Governments, securing 4 research alliances (clusters of excellence) for its outstanding projects and the title of University of Excellence for its flagship university concept.

Grafische Darstellung der Exzellenzuniversität Hamburg

Photo: UHH/Vogiatzis

Content

Our impact as a University of Excellence

As a flagship university, we actively shape the future together with our partner institutions. Under the guiding principle “Innovating and Cooperating for a Sustainable Future in a Digital Age”, we create momentum for research, teaching, and society through targeted funding programmes, new professorships, innovative projects, and strong networks.

Portrait Prof. Kesternich

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari

More than money

The nucleus professor Iris Kesternich looks at the incentives, other than money, that motivate people to work. Her outstanding research strengthens the University’s core research area Health Economics and received an ERC Consolidator Grant.

Nucleus professorships
Gruppenportrait

Photo: privat

Studying at the volcano

Twice annually, Universität Hamburg—University of Excellence funds student research groups that would like to take their first career-advancing step with their own research project. A group of young geophysicists, for example, headed to Italy to study the activity on Stromboli.

Student research groups
Portrait Prof. Kutzbach

Photo: UHH/Göttling

Fruit growing amidst climate change

How much carbon can soils store under different forms of land use strategies? Prof. Lars Kutzbach is studying this in cooperation with fruit growers in Hamburg’s Altes Land region. Together, they want to prepare the region for climate change, with the help of the Universität Hamburg—University of Excellence knowledge exchange fund.

Knowledge Exchange Fund
Portrait Seuring

Photo: UHH/Schonefeld

Core facilities, shared use

With the help of cryo-electron microscopy, researchers can examine the tiniest cellular processes. The requisite large equipment and facilities are centralized at the University of Hamburg so that as many users as possible benefit. Dr. Carolin Seuring helps with the planning and execution of experiments.

Technology platforms
Portrait Dr. Makaza-Goede

Photo: privat

Modern perspectives to counter colonial patterns

How can critical approaches in the global South contribute to dismantling hegemonic and colonial patterns of thinking in international law? Dr. Dorothy Makaza-Goede is looking at this question for her postdoctoral fellowship, an instrument with which the University of Hamburg fosters especially qualified early career researchers from Germany and abroad.

Postdoctoral fellowships

Our clusters of excellence

All our projects are based on outstanding interdisciplinary research. The 4 funded clusters of excellence cover a range of topics, such as astronomy, climate, written artifacts, and quantum technologies. Integrating as many perspectives as possible is essential to our work. We therefore systematically bring in experts from the natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences, to work together to address the complex questions of our age.

Performance areas

The changes and funding measures already set in motion can be divided into 5 performance areas to focus and align our efforts. The interaction between these areas works to consolidate the transformation of the whole University into a responsible and innovative institution with a high international profile.

Our cross-cutting topics

Following our guiding principle as a University of Excellence, we incorporate key future topics into all our initiatives from the very beginning. They are an integral part of our strategic priorities and of everything we do as a flagship university.

Drei junge Menschen im Gespräch mit Laptop und WhiteboardDrei junge Menschen im Gespräch mit Laptop und Whiteboard

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari

Focus on cooperation

We depend on cooperation structures and innovation to strengthen regional exchange, foster global knowledge exchange, link disciplines in research, teaching, and governance, and advance pioneering developments together.

Funding and participation

Foto: Studentin in Bibliothek

Photo: UHH/von Wieding

Our University thrives on the ideas and contributions of all of its members. Students, doctoral researchers, and teaching staff enjoy numerous funding instruments that provide extensive opportunities for realizing their own projects, getting involved, and shaping the future of the University of Excellence.

Funding opportunities

Universität Hamburg—University of Excellence: video

What does is mean to be a “University of Excellence”? How does the University of Hamburg benefit from the title? And how does the Excellence Strategy provide inspiration beyond research—for example, for teaching, knowledge exchange, and society? This video has answers!

Excellence Strategy FAQ

Contact

Zwei Studierende im Gespräch

Photo: UHH/von Wieding

Dr. Berit Lindau and the Excellence Strategy team in Section 12 are happy to answer your questions.

Send an email