A total of 70 Clusters received green light from the German Research Foundation and the German Science and Humanities Council today. The new seven-year funding phase will begin on 1st of January, 2026. The Clusters will receive up to EUR 10 million per year from the Federal and State governments. CeTI is one of the clusters of excellence funded at Dresden University of Technology.

The Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop (CeTI) advances efficient collaboration between humans and machines. One of its applications is human-machine collaboration involving mutual learning across distances without programming knowledge. This requires the development of innovative technologies for real-time communication as well as robust models of the human body and its ability to react.

Cluster Speaker Prof. Frank H. P. Fitzek says: “We are both delighted and relieved that, after months of intense waiting, it has now been confirmed that our CeTI Cluster of Excellence has been approved for the second funding phase. We are elated that we can continue to work on the exciting and socially important topic of Humans and Robotics in an interdisciplinary manner. It is only in a Cluster of Excellence that it is possible to bring together so many different disciplines and conduct joint research at the highest level. Today, we want to relish this special moment—before we throw ourselves into the task of providing significant impetus for research and social engagement over the next seven years.”

Background: TUD as a University of Excellence

TUD was already successful in the previous Excellence Initiative of the Federal and State governments. The first Cluster was awarded to TUD in 2006, and it received the title of University of Excellence for the first time in 2012. Since 2019, TUD has been permanently funded as a University of Excellence as part of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State governments. As such, it must undergo an evaluation every seven years. The next evaluation by an international Committee of Experts will take place in November 2025.

Background: The new funding phase for Clusters of Excellence

At present, 57 Clusters of Excellence are being funded throughout Germany. For the next funding phase, 41 projects from a total of 143 submitted draft proposals were invited by the Committee of Experts from the German Research Foundation and the German Science and Humanities Council to submit full proposals - in addition to the already funded Clusters. As a result, a total of 98 proposals competed for funding by the time the funding decision was made. In the new funding phase 2026-2032, 70 Clusters will now be funded. The Federal and State governments will provide EUR 539 million to fund the new Clusters of Excellence from 2026. The new funding phase will run for seven years and begin on January 1, 2026.

[Cited from TUD press release; Outstanding success: TU Dresden secures an impressive five Clusters of Excellence]