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  • Excellence Strategy

    Mathematical model
    © Universität Bielefeld/P. Pollmeier

Current news

The Excellence Strategy is an outstanding programme of the federal and state governments to promote scientific excellence and research cooperation between universities.

In the current round of competition, Bielefeld University has entered the race with four initiatives - on research topics from the fields of artificial intelligence, mathematics, behavioural research and uncertainty research - in the Clusters of Excellence funding line. In the two-stage procedure, draft proposals were initially submitted to the German Research Foundation (DFG) by 31 May 2023. On 1 February 2024, the initiatives may be invited to submit a long proposal prior to the Excellence Commission's final decision on funding in May 2025.

Group photo with 37 staff, people from above on an outdoor meadow
To thank them for their commitment, the participating Researchers as well as thematically and organisationally involved staff members from support areas were invited to a small reception hosted by the rectorate in June after the submission of the drafts. © Stefan Sättele

Our Cluster Initiatives

  • Humans shake hands with robots
    © Universität Bielefeld/Patrick Pollmeier

    CHORUS

    Co-Constructing Embodied Understanding and Skills between Humans and Robots.

    The vision is a new paradigm for teaching new knowledge and skills to robots interacting with humans in a natural way.

  • Mathematical formulae on a green board
    © Universität Bielefeld/Patrick Pollmeier

    ESyMath

    Emerging Synergies in Mathematics

    The cluster initiative aims to fully exploit the potential of the interplay between all three core mathematical areas of arithmetic/algebra, analysis and probability theory.

  • A hand balances table tennis balls against a blue background
    © Corinna Mehl

    MODE

    Modes and Effects of Navigating Uncertainty in Society

    This research focuses on the analysis of different ways of dealing with and using uncertainty in society.

  • Two adult penguins in bright colours stand between many brown-coloured juveniles
    © Oliver Krüger

    SOFI

    Science of Individualisation

    This cluster initiative investigates causes of individualisation and explores interactions between individuals and changing environments.

Review

In October 2007, Bielefeld University was selected for the Excellence Initiative of the German Federal and State Governments with the Cluster(s) of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology and the graduate school Bielefeld International Graduate School in History and Sociology successful. Both were funded for a further five years in 2012 following the decision by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Council of Science and Humanities in the Excellence Initiative of the German federal and state governments.

  • Logo of the BGHS

    Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology

  • Logo of the CITEC

    Center for Cognitive Interaction Technology

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