»We are a University of Excellence«

There was great excitement at Friedrich Schiller University Jena today as the Excellence Commission announced its decision: the University of Jena has been awarded University of Excellence status. With its two Clusters of Excellence, »Balance of the Microverse«External link and »Imaginamics. Practices and Dynamics of Social Imagining«, the University had qualified to apply for funding as a University of Excellence. Its proposal, »Light. Life. Liberty.—Connecting People and Ideas«, has now been successful.

University of Excellence status is awarded as part of the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments, which supports outstanding university research in Germany. Funding decisions are made by the Excellence Commission on the basis of scientific peer review. The Commission comprises 39 experts as well as the federal and state ministers responsible for science and research.

The announcement had been eagerly awaited in Jena. University President Prof. Dr Andreas Marx watched the decision live in the University’s Rosensäle together with Thuringia’s Minister-President Mario Voigt, members of the University community and numerous partners and supporters. When Jena’s name was announced, the room erupted in celebration.

We are a University of Excellence—and I am absolutely delighted. This decision is a tremendous recognition of how far our University has come and of all the people who have made this journey possible together. They can all be proud of what they have achieved over the past decades.

Prof. Dr Andreas Marx, University President

Marx thanked everyone who had contributed to the University’s success: »This achievement has been made possible by a great many people working together. My thanks go to everyone across the University whose dedication has contributed to this success. I would also like to thank our partners at the non-university research institutes, Jena University Hospital, in industry, the City of Jena and the Free State of Thuringia. The close collaboration between us is one of the things that makes Jena such a distinctive research hub. It is one of our greatest strengths—and one we intend to build on as a University of Excellence.«

Connecting people and ideas as a foundation for academic excellence

With its proposal »Light. Life. Liberty.—Connecting People and Ideas«, the University builds on its three profile areas Light, Life and Liberty as well as Jena’s distinctive culture of collaboration. At its heart is the ambition to connect existing areas of research strength even more closely and enable new forms of collaboration across disciplinary and institutional boundaries.

»For us, academic excellence comes from focus, strong connections and the ability to bring together people with outstanding ideas and different perspectives,« says Marx. »As a University of Excellence, we want to create even better conditions for exactly that.«

The University will use the funding to further strengthen its outstanding research, attract and support exceptional researchers, and create new opportunities for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research. It will also bring research and teaching into even closer connection and expand engagement with industry and society. Jena’s closely connected research and innovation ecosystem will play a key role in this.

What the decision means for Thuringia

Mario Voigt, Minister-President of the Free State of Thuringia, who followed the announcement at the Rosensäle together with members of the University community, welcomed the decision:

Today is a great day for Jena and for Thuringia as a whole: Friedrich Schiller University Jena is now a University of Excellence. My warmest congratulations and thanks go to the researchers, students and University leadership who have worked towards this achievement for years. ›Light. Life. Liberty.‹ stands for outstanding research, brilliant minds and the freedom to think in new ways. This status brings additional funding and international visibility, making Jena even more attractive to talent from around the world. The whole state will benefit—every company looking for skilled professionals and every region seeking to retain young people. Thuringia now ranks among Germany’s leading centres of academic research. This is a major step forward for the entire state.

Mario Voigt, Minister-President of the Free State of Thuringia

Two Clusters of Excellence as the foundation

The University’s application for University of Excellence status is built on the scientific strength of its two Clusters of Excellence, »Balance of the Microverse«External link and »Imaginamics. Practices and Dynamics of Social Imagining«. Together, they reflect the breadth of research and interdisciplinary strength at the University of Jena.

In the Cluster of Excellence »Balance of the Microverse«, researchers investigate how microbial communities interact with one another and with their environment, and what influences their balance. Their findings have implications for areas including health, the environment and climate.

The Cluster of Excellence »Imaginamics« investigates how societies create shared ideas, narratives and visions of the future, and how these change over time. It also explores the role such imaginaries play in social change, conflict and cohesion.

What University of Excellence status will make possible

University of Excellence status gives Friedrich Schiller University Jena new opportunities to advance its strategic development. Key priorities include supporting outstanding researchers, developing new forms of interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthening the links between research and teaching, sharing research infrastructure and expanding regional and international networks.

The aim is to advance the University as a whole and create even better conditions for new scientific ideas, collaborations and connections to emerge.

Reactions to the decision

Among the first to congratulate the University was Prof. Dr Wolfgang Marquardt, Chair of the University Council. He described the decision as the result of years of collective effort:

Today’s decision by the selection committee is the well-deserved result of a marathon lasting many years—followed by a magnificent final sprint. My sincere thanks go to everyone who rose to the challenges of this competition with such remarkable dedication, and my warmest congratulations to the entire University community!

Prof. Dr Wolfgang Marquardt, Chair of the University Council

Thuringia’s Minister for Education, Science and Culture, Christian Tischner, followed the announcement in Bonn. On his way to Jena, he congratulated the University on its success:

This is an outstanding achievement for Jena and for the whole of Thuringia. Behind today’s Excellence decision are researchers who have spent years developing concepts, preparing proposals and conducting experiments without knowing whether their efforts would ultimately succeed. My thanks go to them, as well as to the teachers and students whose commitment every day makes Friedrich Schiller University Jena the outstanding place it is—and which has now received this recognition. Excellence is more than a title. It is a commitment for the next seven years—for the University and for us as a state.

Christian Tischner, Thuringia’s Minister for Education, Science and Culture

About the Excellence Strategy

Through the Excellence Strategy, Germany’s federal and state governments support outstanding research at German universities. The programme comprises two funding lines: Clusters of Excellence and Universities of Excellence. An individual university must have at least two Clusters of Excellence to be eligible to apply for University of Excellence status.

The ten Excellence institutions already receiving funding were successfully evaluated in 2026 and will continue to receive support. In the current competition, up to five additional universities or university alliances could be selected for funding. Following today’s decision, a total of 15 Universities of Excellence and University Excellence Consortia will receive funding in Germany from 2027.