Hamburg Presents Roadmap and Goals of the Clusters of Excellence
Until 2032: BlueMat from the TUHH among the funded clusters
12.04.2026
In the nationwide competition of the Excellence Strategy, Hamburg is excellently positioned. A total of five Clusters of Excellence have been approved for the funding period 2026-2032, four of them at the University of Hamburg (UHH) and one at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH). In total, approximately 266.4 million euros in excellence funding will flow to Hamburg for the next seven years for these clusters. For the year 2026, the Hamburg Senate is providing around 16.7 million euros to finance the clusters, as announced by Science Senator Maryam Blumenthal at the state press conference together with Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren (President of the UHH) and Prof. Dr. Andreas Timm-Giel (President of the TUHH).
Science Senator Maryam Blumenthal: "How does writing shape our world? How do we develop the materials of tomorrow? What can we learn about our cosmos from the smallest particles and about our history from writing artifacts? And how do we solve the challenges surrounding the climate? Hamburg’s Clusters of Excellence demonstrate how science can shape the future: They find answers to the pressing questions of our time – and make real progress possible. This work is not abstract – it concretely changes how we will live tomorrow. Especially in politically and economically challenging times, this is a strong signal: Hamburg is leading the way. We invest in knowledge, innovation, and the future – and consistently develop our excellence location."
BlueMat marks a milestone
Prof. Dr. Andreas Timm-Giel, President of the Hamburg University of Technology: "With BlueMat, the TUHH sends a strong signal for top-level research made in Hamburg. The ambitious goal: to develop materials that, in interaction with water – the planet’s ubiquitous resource – unfold novel functionalities. The research within this Cluster of Excellence marks a milestone. It shows how we develop real innovations for people and the environment. In this way, BlueMat aligns in a special way with TUHH’s mission: Engineering to Face Climate Change."
Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren, President of the University of Hamburg: "Four world-class Clusters of Excellence and 266 million euros for Hamburg’s top-level research: This is an outstanding result for the University of Hamburg and the Hamburg science hub. This success was achieved by the scientists who accomplish extraordinary work in the clusters. Excellence requires a reliable foundation, and we are working together with the city to secure this."
The Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments is one of Germany’s largest funding programs for top-level research. Until 2025, 533 million euros were available annually, from 2026 onwards even 687 million euros per year. Of this, the federal government contributes 75 percent and the states 25 percent. With these funds, the federal and state governments support interdisciplinary top-level research alliances, so-called Clusters of Excellence, and award especially successful universities such as UHH the title of “Excellence University.”
See also: https://www.tuhh.de/bluemat/homepage
TUHH - Public Relations Office
Michael Tokarski
E-Mail: michael.tokarski@tuhh.de
Phone: +49 30601 3458
