In the most recent round of the excellence competition, the materials sciences made it through with their proposal "The Martian Mindset: A Scarcity-Driven Engineering Paradigm." The following teams also applied: "CHORUS – Co-Constructing Embodied Understanding and Skills Between Humans and Robots" and "GlobaLab – Bremen Collaboratory on Global Solidarity" from the social sciences. MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen is submitting an application for continuation of the successful Excellence Cluster "The Ocean Floor – Earth's Uncharted Interface".

"Bremen is the technology metropolis of the north," emphasized Mayor Bovenschulte on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at the senate reception in Bremen City Hall. "You have all played your part in this in recent years. The applications for the Excellence Initiative paint an impressive picture: Bremen is at the forefront of research and teaching. Even if not all applications were successful, I am certain that they can still be very valuable in the competition for financial support for academic work."

Science and research are already a central economic factor in the state of Bremen, continued Bovenschulte. One in ten jobs is dependent on the science sector, with annual tax revenues of 228 million euros and added value amounting to 1.8 billion euros per year. Bovenschulte: "And last but not least, academia keeps our two cities young. It lowers the average age of residents, it is an economic driver, and it contributes to a high quality of life and a positive image of our two cities."

Research has Added Social Value for the State of Bremen

Kathrin Moosdorf, Senator for the Environment, Climate, and Science: "The applications from the cluster teams in the current Excellence Initiative show how strong and diverse the academic landscape in Bremen is. This is also evident in the social relevance of the research topics – from the importance of the ocean for climate change to the sustainable use of limited resources, global solidarity, and the interaction between humans and AI. The research not only has an economic added value, but also a very concrete social added value for the state of Bremen and its future – and far beyond. I would therefore like to express my sincere thanks and respect to everyone involved for their work!"

Shaping a University of the Future

Prof. Dr. Jutta Günther, President of the University of Bremen, commented: "We look back with pride and joy on what we have achieved so far and thank all cluster teams for their extremely high level of commitment. The prospect of now being able to submit two full proposals also opens up the almost unique opportunity to once again acquire the title of University of Excellence. Our aim is not to achieve excellence for the sake of excellence, but, with the additional resources and visibility, to have the opportunity to shape a university of the future."

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