Working together for excellent research Academic Alliance Braunschweig-Hannover has laid the foundation for two Clusters of Excellence

Joint press release by Technische Universität Braunschweig and Leibniz Universität Hannover

Attracting more research funding by pooling expertise – that was the central goal of the Braunschweig-Hannover Academic Alliance. It was founded in 2015 and funded with a total of 27 million euros from the Volkswagen Foundation’s Lower Saxony Advance by the Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK). On 6 December 2022, representatives of Leibniz Universität Hannover (LUH) and Technische Universität (TU) Braunschweig took stock at the Alliance’s closing event.

“Thematic cooperation in science – across universities as well – has been an important pillar of our science funding in Lower Saxony for many years,” says Lower Saxony’s Science Minister Falko Mohrs. “In addition to promoting outstanding minds and providing infrastructure, it is an important building block on our way to further strengthening the profile areas of the universities and the excellence of Lower Saxony’s research landscape. The successful model of the Academic Alliance Braunschweig-Hannover encourages us to continue and expand the path we have taken.”

“With its existing research infrastructures, the unique bundling of complementary scientific competences at the two universities and the non-university research centres and industrial companies integrated through diverse cooperations, the Braunschweig-Hannover science region represents a research landscape that is significant throughout Germany,” says LUH President Prof. Dr. Volker Epping. “It is therefore necessary that this science hub continues to receive the support that also reflects its importance.”

“The successes of the Academic Alliance have shown how excellent research can be created through focused cross-university cooperation and targeted state funding. We are grateful for the great support from the MWK that TU Braunschweig and LUH have received in this alliance. Cooperation structures such as the Academic Alliance are an important prerequisite for nationally and internationally competitive research and therefore also the basis for the success of excellent research in Lower Saxony,” says Prof. Dr. Angela Ittel, President of TU Braunschweig.

The scientists from Braunschweig and Hannover have cooperated in the three research lines “Smart BioTecs” (life sciences), “Quanomet” (quantum and nanometrology) and “Mobilise” (mobility). The last two laid the foundation for the successful applications of the Clusters of Excellence “QuantumFrontiers” and “Sustainable and Energy Efficient Aviation (SE²A)”.

Mobilise – Mobility Line of Research

Mobility is the basis for trade and the economy as well as for science, culture and the scope of action of every human being. The three focus areas of digitalisation, energy transition in aviation, and production and lightweight construction were pursued. The Cluster of Excellence “Sustainable and Energy Efficient Aviation (SE²A)” is an interdisciplinary project with the goal of researching technologies for the sustainable and environmentally compatible development of aviation.

Quanomet – Quantum and Nanometrology Line of Research

Metrology is the science of precise measurement. The aim of the Quanomet line of research was to develop more precise measurement methods that lead to new insights and improved theories for describing and predicting experiments, analytical methods and natural events. In the Cluster of Excellence “QuantumFrontiers”, researchers use quantum effects to monitor global water resources from space, explore gravitational waves and develop the world’s most precise clocks.

Smart BioTecs – Life Sciences Line of Research

In the “Active substances and implants” line of research (Smart BioTecs), the focus was on the development and production of novel active substances and medicines, but also intelligent implants.