Status: 11/04/2022 6:58 p.m
The federal and state governments have agreed on a billion dollar package for universities. Among other things, the money is intended to support more clusters of excellence. A one-off payment for young people was also announced for early 2023.
The federal and state science ministers have put together a package worth billions to improve research and teaching in Germany. In addition, around 3.5 million young people are to receive a one-off payment of 200 euros from the federal relief package at the beginning of next year, as Federal Science Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP) announced. The countries had requested an earlier payment.
In the years 2023 to 2027, an additional EUR 676 million is to be made available for the Future Contract for Studies and Teaching (ZSL). This roughly corresponds to the increase in dynamics of three percent agreed in the coalition agreement. “The decision is a milestone for the quality of studies and teaching, as provided for in the coalition agreement,” said Stark-Watzinger. The universities should use the funds “promptly and completely”.
Clusters of excellence at universities are to increase to 70
The number of excellence clusters at universities in Germany is to be increased from 57 to 70. “This is possible by increasing the funding – from 533 million euros to 687 million euros per year,” said Stark-Watzinger. “We are looking forward to the competition with many new initiatives,” she emphasized.
“Here we manage to continue a real success story in Germany,” said Bavaria’s head of department Markus Blume (CSU). The German Research Foundation immediately welcomed the decision.
“The clear winners of today’s resolutions are the universities: With the additional funds from the ZSL, they receive financial planning security and thus have the opportunity to employ more scientists on a permanent basis,” said North Rhine-Westphalia’s Research Minister Ina Brandes (CDU). “By expanding the excellence strategy to include up to 70 clusters of excellence in the future, we are ensuring that new topics and universities that have not previously been represented are also given an appropriate chance of success.”
The long-term goal is parity in universities
The initiative to increase the number of female professors in Germany should also be promoted. The long-term goal remains parity between men and women, said Stark-Watzinger. Germany is continuing on its way towards a gender-equitable university, said Brandes. “In the future, women should be adequately represented at all qualification levels and in all departments,” emphasized the NRW politician.
The national research data infrastructure is also to be strengthened in order to better store and network research data and thus make it more widely usable, as the science ministers decided.
The federal and state governments have also agreed to continue the Nako health study for another five years until 2027. The large-scale study has been recording widespread diseases in Germany since 2014.