Clusters of excellence enable German university locations to establish internationally visible, competitive research and training facilities, thereby enhancing scientific networking and cooperation among the participating institutions. Clusters of excellence should form an important part of a university's strategic and thematic planning, significantly raise its profile and reflect its considered long-term priorities.

They should also create an excellent training environment for early career researchers. In conjunction with the other two funding lines, i.e. graduate schools and institutional strategies to promote top-level research, clusters of excellence will help to increase Germany's attraction as a research location in the long term and improve its international competitiveness.

• Forms and Guidelines