Jena, October 02, 2026 – The Friedrich-Schiller-Universität (FSU) is awaiting the late Friday afternoon with great anticipation: the decision will be made as to whether the university will be allowed to hold the title of University of Excellence in the future. It would be the first time a Thuringian university has achieved this status.
- Event: Decision on Excellence status for the FSU Jena
- Time: Friday, October 02, 2026, late afternoon
- Significance: First University of Excellence for the science hub of Thüringen
- Start of funding: January 1, 2027 (if successfully awarded)
Significance of the decision for the Jena location
The awarding of the Excellence status is of outstanding economic and scientific importance for the city of Jena and the entire region. The program from the federal and state governments is intended to strengthen top-level research and increase the international visibility of the universities. In addition to the enormous prestige, the title is linked to significant financial resources, which in previous funding phases amounted to around twelve million euros per year. A positive decision would sustainably strengthen the science hub of Jena and further deepen networking with the regional high-tech industry.
The path to Excellence status
The path there was long and demanding. To be eligible to apply, universities had to demonstrate at least two successful, interdisciplinary research projects – so-called Clusters of Excellence. Jena convinced the reviewers twice in recent years:
- Balance of the Microverse: Research into microorganisms (funding confirmed for the second time in May 2025).
- Imaginamics: New cluster for the study of social conflicts and debates.
- Application: In November, the university submitted the full application under the title “Light. Life. Liberty. – Connecting People and Ideas” to the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat).
- Review: In June 2025, an international group of experts visited Jena to assess the university’s performance.
Overview of decision-making bodies and competition
The Excellence Commission decides on the award. This consists of a 39-member committee of experts from the scientific community as well as the responsible science ministers from the federal and state governments. It is chaired by the President of the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Chairman of the German Council of Science and Humanities. So far, there are nine universities and one consortium in Germany with this status, including the TU Dresden and the Berlin University Alliance. In addition to Jena, ten other universities have applied for the up to five new places to be awarded.
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Background: The FSU Jena as a scientific engine
The Friedrich-Schiller-Universität has shaped life in Jena for centuries. With around 18,000 students and close ties to non-university research institutions as well as the optics and medical technology industry, it forms the foundation for modern Jena as a city of science and innovation.
Should Jena be awarded the status, official funding will begin on January 1, 2027. The status is granted permanently, but requires the university to undergo a rigorous scientific evaluation every seven years.
Source:
Million-euro funding: Will Jena become a University of Excellence?
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.