The Excellence Cluster Topoi belongs to a small group of research centers that have been founded within the framework of the so-called “Excellence Initiative”. On June 23, 2005 the German federal and state governments agreed on an initiative to promote top-level research in Germany.

Aiming for Top-Level Research: Strengthening German Science

The Excellence Initiative aims to both promote top-level research and improve the quality of German universities and research institutions, thereby making a significant contribution to strengthening science and research in Germany in the long term, improving its international competitiveness, and raising the profile of the top performers in academia and research.

The Funding Decision: Two Rounds in 2005 and 2006

Universities were eligible to submit proposals in two rounds of funding. The initiative encourages cooperation with non-university research institutions. The first round was announced in 2005, and the winners were selected in October 2006. The second round, in which Topoi was submitted, was announced in 2006 and final funding decisions were made in October 2007.

Excellence Initiative Grants Committee: Three Types of Funding

The Grants Committee considers proposals for the three types of funding provided for in the initiative, i.e. graduate schools, excellence clusters, and institutional strategies to promote top-level research. It acts on the recommendations of a Joint Commission established by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and the Wissenschaftsrat (German Council of Science and Humanities).