The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Heidelberg University successfully defended their status as Universities of Excellence in Germany’s Excellence Strategy. The decision, announced on March 11, 2026, confirms that both institutions will receive funding for another seven years, beginning in 2027. The Excellence Strategy aims to strengthen Germany’s position as a leading international research hub and support outstanding universities in developing their research profiles. A key prerequisite for maintaining the Excellence title was the success of several Excellence Clusters, including 3D Matter Made to Order. An international panel of experts evaluated the universities’ achievements over the past years and their strategic plans for the future. The renewed Excellence status underlines the strong research performance and international competitiveness of both universities.
