On May 22, 2025, the German Research Foundation (DFG) announced the results of the latest Clusters of Excellence funding round. The Rhine-Main region has emerged as a significant contributor to cutting-edge research in Germany.

Key Highlights:

• Goethe University Frankfurt: Secured two Clusters of Excellence, reinforcing its position in pioneering research:

  • SCALE (Subcellular Architecture of Life): A new cluster focusing on understanding the principles of cellular architecture and creating high-resolution simulations of cellular processes.

  • Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI): A renewed cluster dedicated to advancing research in cardiovascular and pulmonary health. 

• Technical University of Darmstadt: Achieved funding for two Clusters of Excellence:

  • Reasonable Artificial Intelligence (RAI): Aims to develop the next generation of AI systems that learn with a “reasonable” amount of resources, data quality, and data protection, incorporating common sense and adaptability.

  • The Adaptive Mind (TAM): Investigates human behavior under changing external conditions, focusing on stability and adaptability. 

• Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz: continues its excellence with:

  • PRISMA++ :delving into precision physics and fundamental interactions.

Collectively, these accomplishments position the Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) alliance—comprising Goethe University Frankfurt, TU Darmstadt, and JGU Mainz—as a formidable consortium in the German research landscape. With this momentum, the RMU is poised to submit a joint proposal for the Universities of Excellence funding line, aiming to further elevate the region’s research stature.

Congratulations to all researchers, faculty, and staff, some of which are also part of the SFB1551, who contributed to this success.

You can find the full announcement by the RMU (in German) here.