Together on the Path to Excellence
Freiburg, 15/05/2025
The University of Freiburg aspires to achieve University of Excellence status. The ongoing preparations for the proposal are supported by the active involvement of all University members. This participation underscores the collaborative nature of overall institutional development at the University of Freiburg.
The University of Freiburg is participating in the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments with proposals for four Clusters of Excellence and aspires to achieve University of Excellence status. The German Research Foundation will announce which Clusters of Excellence are to receive funding on 22 May 2025. Parallel to this, the University is engaged in intensive preparations for the Universities of Excellence funding line. The prerequisite for submission of a proposal is two approved Clusters of Excellence. The ongoing preparations for the proposal are supported by the active involvement of all University members. This participation underscores the collaborative nature of overall institutional development at the University of Freiburg.
‘A strong university lives on the commitment, the diversity, and the ideas of everyone that makes it up. It is therefore a central concern for me to involve all status groups at our University in the application process – researchers, teachers, students, and administrative, service, and technical employees’, says Rector Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein. ‘Only in this way can we create a solid foundation for an excellent and sustainable university.’
“A strong university lives on the commitment, the diversity, and the ideas of everyone that makes it up. It is therefore a central concern for me to involve all status groups at our University in the application process.“
Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein
Rector, University of Freiburg
Focus groups come up with ideas for twelve cross-cutting topics
At the start of the year, more than 120 members of the University began working together with external partners in groups focusing on twelve thematic cross-cutting topics. These focus groups came up with ideas for measures with the potential to further develop and strengthen the University of Freiburg. The groups discussed their ideas together at a final event to identify synergies and explore approaches for further development. The results of this process will be integrated into the University of Freiburg’s proposal in the Universities of Excellence funding line.
University Council and Senate exchange ideas on overall university development
In April 2025, the members of the University Council and the Senate of the University of Freiburg met for the first time for a joint meeting. Rector Krieglstein had invited the two bodies to a joint discussion forum against the background of the further development of the University’s overall strategy as well as its proposal in the Universities of Excellence funding line. In a world café, the members exchanged their ideas on how to further strengthen top-level research, innovative teaching, and pioneering technology and knowledge transfer at the University of Freiburg – also as a contribution to addressing the big societal challenges of our times.
Unicorn Fund: Inspiration for the University of Freiburg’s future
In addition, University members from science and research as well as research management can get involved in the University of Freiburg’s proposal for the Universities of Excellence funding line in a very special way: They’re invited to apply for the University’s internal Unicorn Fund by 31 May 2025 – with creative ideas that renew individual areas of the University from the ground up and have the potential to radiate throughout the University. Applicants can receive up to 300,000 euros over three years to work out and implement their idea if the University is successful in the Universities of Excellence funding line.