02 Oct 2026
For the U Bremen Research Alliance (UBRA), this decision is a disappointment. At the same time, one thing is clear: the joint endeavor in the Northwest was not in vain. In recent months, much has emerged that the participating universities, research institutions, and partners can continue to build on together.
“We congratulate the winners of the new Excellence locations. Of course, we would have wished for this result for the Northwest Alliance as well. That is not the case now, and at this moment it makes us very sad,” says Professor Jutta Günther, Chair of the U Bremen Research Alliance and President of the University of Bremen. On one point, however, she is certain: “We will hold on to the goals of the Northwest Alliance. Cross-state collaboration will continue, also and above all with the non-university institutes and societal stakeholders.”
Under the title “Northwest Alliance: Connecting for Tomorrow,” the universities of Bremen and Oldenburg submitted their proposal as a University Excellence Consortium to the German Science and Humanities Council in November 2025. The proposal described the two universities’ joint strategy for the future of the science and research region in northwestern Germany and beyond — with the University of Groningen as a strategic partner. In spring 2026, a commission of international expert reviewers conducted a multi-day site visit on the Bremen campus.
The U Bremen Research Alliance was involved in preparing the proposal and in the site visit. As an alliance of the University of Bremen and 13 non-university research institutions in Bremen and Bremerhaven, it was able to contribute its experience in strategically connecting university and non-university research, as well as Bremen’s perspective on cross-institutional cutting-edge research.
“Since its founding in 2016, UBRA has stood for this connection: excellent research across institutional boundaries, joint strategic development, and strong cooperation in Bremen and beyond,” says Professor Rainer Fechte-Heinen, Deputy Chair of the U Bremen Research Alliance and Chairman of the Leibniz-IWT Board of Directors. “Even if the decision turned out differently than we had hoped, what was developed together in the concept development, the proposal, and the site visit remains. The cooperation between Bremen, Oldenburg, Groningen, the non-university research institutions, the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg, and other regional and international partners has already gained even more substance during the application process. The U Bremen Research Alliance will build on this together with its members and partners.”
The application as a University Excellence Consortium was preceded by a major success in the Clusters of Excellence funding line: In spring 2025, the universities of Bremen and Oldenburg received approval for a total of four Clusters of Excellence. This meant that the requirements for applying as a University Excellence Consortium were clearly met.
The Northwest Alliance will continue to develop its collaboration. Together with its members, the U Bremen Research Alliance will also discuss how the momentum from the application process can be used to further strengthen the strategic networking of university and non-university research in Bremen and northwestern Germany.
About the Excellence Strategy
The Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments aims to strengthen the international competitiveness of German universities. It comprises two funding lines:
Clusters of Excellence support thematic cutting-edge research at a single university or in cooperation among several universities. Across Germany, 70 clusters are currently being funded with a total of 539 million euros per year. The funding period is seven years; the current funding period began in early 2026. Continued funding is possible. Within the Northwest Alliance, four Clusters of Excellence are being funded in the areas of marine research, hearing research, animal navigation, and materials research. Three Clusters of Excellence were the prerequisite for applying as a university consortium. University and non-university research institutions also cooperate closely within the Clusters of Excellence.
Clusters of Excellence at the University of Bremen:
- The Ocean Floor – Earth’s Uncharted Interface (together with the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg)
- Cluster of Excellence The Martian Mindset - A Scarcity-Driven Engineering Paradigm
Clusters of Excellence at Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg:
Universities of Excellence receive institutional funding for the strategic development of entire universities or university alliances. The prerequisites are a positive evaluation after seven years and renewed success in acquiring the required number of Clusters of Excellence.
