Clusters of Excellence
Our academics combine their leading expertise in high-performance research alliances.
Since 2006, TUM has enjoyed success in every funding round for the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments, establishing research centers of international renown in Germany as an academic and science hub. Funding centers on seven Clusters of Excellence in the future which effectively combine the outstanding expertise of our university with that of further scientific institutions.
20 years of Excellence
Brochure on the TUM Agenda 2030+
How are we shaping the future of our university? With the TUM Agenda 2030+, we are building on two decades of excellence and setting the priorities for the years ahead. The brochure provides insights into the key goals of our strategy.
Biosystems Design Munich (BioSysteM)
The BioSysteM cluster aims to create self-organizing molecular and cellular systems with programmable, life-like properties. Researchers develop biomolecular machines, intelligent materials, and pattern-based therapeutics while exploring the control of cell differentiation and organ formation. Their work lays the foundation for ground-breaking biomedical and regenerative medicine applications.
Participating institutions: TUM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Max Planck Institute (MPI) of Biochemistry, Helmholtz Munich
e-conversion: Fundamentals of energy conversion processes
The e-conversion cluster investigates the processes involved in converting renewable energies, such as photovoltaics, photocatalysis, and batteries. Researchers aim to minimize energy loss occurring at the interfaces between different materials due to various physical effects, which is critical to the efficiency of energy conversion. Their work seeks to enhance sustainable energy technology.
Participating institutions: TUM, LMU, MPI for Solid State Research, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Deutsches Museum
Energy research at TUM
Our university brings together researchers from different disciplines in the field of energy research. They develop sustainable, cost-effective and practicable solutions for the future energy supply.
MCQST – Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology
MCQST explores the foundations of complex quantum systems and lays out the grounds for quantum technology, a key technology of the future. Its mission is to advance quantum information science by mastering entanglement, engineering complex many-body quantum systems, and translating these advances into impactful applications ranging from quantum simulators to quantum sensors and novel quantum materials.
Participating institutions: TUM, LMU, MPI of Quantum Optics, Walther-Meißner-Institute of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Deutsches Museum
Quantum at TUM
Quantum technologies will profoundly change our everyday lives in the coming decades. Our university is conducting cutting-edge research in this field and developing the underlying basic technologies. At the same time, we train highly qualified young scientists who will be able to accompany the change in the future.
Cluster for Nucleic Acid Research and Technologies (NUCLEATE)
The NUCLEATE cluster investigates the fundamental biological functions of RNA and DNA molecules. It combines interdisciplinary approaches to better understand the roles of nucleic acids in organisms and how their activity can be precisely regulated. Targeted modulation of nucleic acids is a key technology for future medicine, facilitating new methods for diagnosis and treatment worldwide.
Participating institutions: TUM, LMU, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, MPI of Biochemistry, Helmholtz Munich, Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research
ORIGINS: From the origin of the universe to the first building blocks of life
The ORIGINS cluster investigates the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang to the origin of life. Researchers in astrophysics, biophysics, geosciences, and particle physics collaborate to examine links between planet formation and the emergence of prebiotic molecules. They aim to show that life is an inherent result of the universe’s evolution, highlighting the cosmic history that shapes our society.
Participating institutions: TUM, LMU, ESO – European Southern Observatory, Leibniz Supercomputing Centre of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, MPI for Astrophysics, MPI for Extraterrestrial Physics, MPI for Physics, MPI of Biochemistry, MPI for Plasma Physics, Deutsches Museum
SyNergy - Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology
The SyNergy cluster investigates common pathomechanisms of distinct neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. The aim is to uncover mechanisms spanning across individual diseases and thereby develop new therapies that likewise span diseases, including innovative approaches to the replacement of degenerated neurons.
Participating institutions: TUM, TUM Klinikum, LMU, LMU University Hospital, MPI of Neurobiology, DZNE – German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Helmholtz Munich, MPI of Biochemistry, MPI of Psychiatry
Medicine at TUM
We combine basic research, clinical trials, and technology development to better understand diseases, detect them earlier, and provide more personalized treatments.
Medicine and Health
TransforM: Munich Center for Transformative Technologies and Societal Change
The TransforM cluster investigates the transformative power of emerging technologies and their role in reshaping societies. It seeks to understand why, when, and how technologies become socially transformative, and to rethink social science theories and methods related to participation, emergence, responsibility, trust, and resilience to guide responsible innovation for sustainable societal impact.
Participating institutions: TUM, LMU, ifo Institute – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research, MPI for Innovation and Competition, Munich School of Politics and Public Policy (HfP), ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research
TUM as a University of Excellence
We are the only Technical University in Germany that has been consistently recognized as a University of Excellence since 2006. The TUM Agenda 2030 future concept, which we successfully realized during the last funding period (2019 - 2026), will now be further developed as TUM Agenda 2030+. Our new orientation towards 'society-centered research and innovation' creates effective solutions for the global challenges society is facing today.
What is the Excellence Strategy?
With their Excellence Strategy, the federal and state governments have been supporting outstanding scientific achievements, research alliances and enhancing the profile of German universities since 2019. The funding program replaces and refines the Excellence Initiative established in 2006. It consists of two funding lines: the Clusters of Excellence in which universities and research institutes conduct joint research, and the Universities of Excellence whose preeminent position in research is to be extended.
The Excellence Strategy is conducted by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Council of Science and Humanities (WR). Together they manage the selection and regular evaluation of the universities as well as the funded Clusters of Excellence.
Portraits of the Clusters of Excellence
Public Outreach
The podcast on dementia research: understandably explained
From Alzheimer's Disease to stroke: In this German-language podcast series, the Munich researchers of the Cluster of Excellence "SyNergy" (Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology) present the latest research findings and explain understandably how neurological disorders, in which nerve cells die off on a large scale, arise.
Podcast series of DFG on the research of the Clusters of Excellence (in German)