Collaborative research

Cutting-edge research at the University of Münster is distinguished by its collaborative and interdisciplinary culture. Our coordinated DFG programmes include Clusters of Excellence, collaborative research centres, Priority Programmes, research groups and research training groups. In addition, a number of outstanding research projects also receive funding from the European Commission and the German federal and state governments.

DFG funding programmes

The Clusters of Excellence of the University of Münster

Mathematics Münster
since 2019

Religion and Politics
since 2007
Collaborative Research Centres (CRC) / Transregios (CRC TRR)

Coordinated at the University of Münster (ongoing)
- CRC TRR 332 - Neutrophils: Origin, Fate and Function
  since 2022
- CRC 1459 - Intelligent Matter: From responsive to adaptive nanosystems
  since 2021
- CRC 1450 - Multiscale Imaging of Organ-specific Inflammation (inSight)
  since 2021
- CRC 1442 - Geometry: Deformations and Rigidity
  since 2020
- CRC TRR 170 - Late Accretion onto Terrestrial Planets (LATP)
  since 2020 (from 2016 to 2019 coordinated at FU Berlin)
- CRC 1385 - Law and Literature [de]
  since 2019
- CRC 1348 - Dynamic Cellular Interfaces: Formation and Function
  since 2018
- CRC TRR 128 - Initiating/Effector versus Regulatory Mechanisms in Multiple Sclerosis – Progress towards Tackling the Disease
  since 2016 (from 2012 to 2016 coordinated at JGU Mainz)
- CRC 1009 - Breaking Barriers
  since 2012
Involvement of the University of Münster (ongoing)
- CRC 1660 - Hadrons and Nuclei as Discovery Tools
  since 2024 | coordinated at: JGU Mainz
- CRC TRR 393 - Trajectories of Affective Disorders: Cognitive-emotional Mechanisms of Symptom Change
  since 2024 | coordinated at: University of Marburg
- CRC TRR 391 - Spatio-temporal Statistics for the Transition of Energy and Transport
  since 2024 | coordinated at: TU Dortmund
- CRC 1604 - Production of Migration
  since 2024 | coordinated at: University of Osnabrück
- CRC 1557 - Functional Plasticity Encoded by Cellular Membrane Networks
  since 2023 | coordinated at: University of Osnabrück
- CRC TRR 326 - Geometry and Arithmetic of Uniformized Structures (GAUS)
  since 2022 | coordinated at: University of Frankfurt (Main)
- CRC 1225 - Isolated Quantum Systems and Universality in Extreme Conditions (ISOQUANT)
  since 2020 | coordinated at: University of Heidelberg
- CRC TRR 212 - A Novel Synthesis of Individualisation across Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution: Niche Choice, Niche Conformance, Niche Construction (NC3)
  since 2018 | coordinated at: University of Bielefeld
- CRC 1083 - Structure and Dynamics of Internal Interfaces
  since 2017 | coordinated at: University of Marburg
Priority Programmes (SPP)

Coordinated at the University of Münster (ongoing)
Involvement of University of Münster (ongoing)
- SPP 2451 - Engineered Living Materials with Adaptive Functions
  since 2024 | coordinated at: Leibniz Institute for New Materials
- SPP 2225 - Exit Strategies of Intracellular Pathogens
  since 2024 | coordinated at: RWTH Aachen
- SPP 2410 - Hyperbolic Balance Laws in Fluid Mechanics: Complexity, Scales, Randomness (CoScaRa)
  since 2023 | coordinated at: University of Stuttgart
- SPP 2267 - The Digitalisation of Working Worlds. Conceptualising and Capturing a Systemic Transformation
  since 2023 | coordinated at: FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
- SPP 2416 - Chitin, Chitosan and Chito-oligosaccharides and Their Interaction with Proteins of the Extracellular Matrix and Cellular Signaling (CodeChi)
  since 2023 | coordinated at: University of Siegen
- SPP 2404 - Reconstructing the Deep Dynamics of Planet Earth over Geologic Time (DeepDyn)
  since 2023 | coordinated at: LMU München
- SPP 2392 - Visual Communication. Theoretical, Empirical, and Applied Perspectives (ViCom)
  since 2022 | coordinated at: University of Frankfurt/Main
- SPP 1981 - Transottomanica
  since 2022 | coordinated at: JLU Gießen
- SPP 2389 - Emergent Functions of Bacterial Multicellularity
  since 2022 | coordinated at: TU Dresden
- SPP 2176 - The Iranian Highlands: Resilience and Integration of Premodern Societies
  since 2022 | coordinated at: Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum - Leibniz-Forschungsmuseum für Georessourcen
- SPP 2370 - Interlinking Catalysts, Mechanisms and Reactor Concepts for the Conversion of Dinitrogen by Electrocatalytic, Photocatalytic and Photoelectrocatalytic Methods (“Nitroconversion”)
  since 2022 | coordinated at: University of Bayreuth
- SPP 2080 - Catalysts and Reactors under Dynamic Conditions for Energy Storage and Conversion
  since 2022 | coordinated at: KIT
- SPP 2298 - Theoretical Foundations of Deep Learning
  since 2022 | coordinated at: University of Munich
- SPP 2317 - META-REP: A Meta-scientific Programme to Analyse and Optimise Replicability in the Behavioural, Social, and Cognitive Sciences
  since 2022 | coordinated at: University of Munich
- SPP 2238 - Dynamics of Ore-Metals Enrichment (DOME)
  since 2021 | coordinated at: University of Potsdam
- SPP 2265 - Random Geometric Systems
  since 2020 | coordinated at: Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics, Leibniz Institute in Forschungsverbund Berlin e. V.
- SPP 2256 - Variational Methods for Predicting Complex Phenomena in Engineering Structures and Materials
  since 2020 | coordinated at: University of Regensburg
- SPP 2244 - 2D Materials – Physics of Van der Waals [Hetero]Structures (2DMP)
  since 2020 | coordinated at: TU Dresden
- SPP 2237 - MAdLand – Molecular Adaptation to Land: Plant Evolution to Change
  since 2020 | coordinated at: University of Göttingen
- SPP 2248 - Polymer-based Batteries
  since 2020 | coordinated at: FSU Jena
- SPP 2143 - Entangled Africa: Intra-African connections between Rainforest and Mediterranean (ca. 6000 to 500 BP)
  since 2018 | coordinated at: German Archaeological Institute
- SPP 2102 - Light Controlled Reactivity of Metal Complexes
  since 2018 | coordinated at: JGU Mainz
- SPP 2026 - Geometry at Infinity
  since 2017 | coordinated at: University of Augsburg
- SPP 2006 - Compositionally Complex Alloys - High Entropy Alloys (CCA - HEA)
  since 2017 | coordinated at: University of Bayreuth
- SPP 1374 - Exploratories for Long-Term and Large-Scale Biodiversity Research (Biodiversity Exploratories)
  since 2009 | coordinated at: University of Berne; Senckenberg Nature Research Society
- SPP 527 - International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP)
  since 2009 | coordinated at: Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources
Research Units (FOR) / Centres for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (KFG) / Clinical Research Units (KFO)

Coordinated at the University of Münster (ongoing)
- FOR 5573 - Dynamic Regulation of the Proton Motive Force in Photosynthesis (GoPMF)
  since 2023
- FOR 5415 - Local Xenocracy. Administration and Cultural Entanglement in Pre-Modernity
  since 2023
- FOR 5393 - The Future Smart Town
  since 2023
- KFG 33 - Access to Cultural Goods in Digital Change: Art Historical, Curatorial, and Ethical Aspects
  since 2023
- KFO 342 - Organ Dysfunction During Systemic Inflammation
  since 2019
- KFO 326 - Male Germ Cells: from Genes to Function
  since 2017
Involvement of the University of Münster (ongoing)
- FOR 5640 - Physiological and Evolutionary Adaptation of Plants to Co-occurring Abiotic and Biotic Challenges (PlantsCoChalleng)
  since 2024 | coordinated at: CAU Kiel
- FOR 5303 - Digital Media in Chronic Disease Self-Management
  since 2023 | coordinated at: LMU München
- FOR 5392 - Consumer Preferences, Consumer Mistakes, and Firms' Response
  since 2023 | coordinated at: University of Düsseldorf
- FOR 5427 - BActerial Renal InfeCtion And DEfense (BARICADE)
  since 2023 | coordinated at: University Hospital of Giessen and Marburg
- FOR 5230 - Financial Markets and Frictions - An Intermediary Asset Pricing Approach
  since 2023 | coordinated at: KIT
- FOR 5321 - Human Rights Discourse in Migration Societies (MeDiMi)
  since 2023 | coordinated at: JLU Gießen
- FOR 5317 - Practices for Referring to Persons: Usage-based Approaches to Personal, Indefinite and Demonstrative Pronouns
  since 2023 | coordinated at: University of Hamburg
- FOR 2690 - Translational Pruritus Research
  since 2022 | coordinated at: University of Heidelberg
- FOR 2848 - Nanoscale Architecture and Heterogeneity of the Mitochondrial Inner Membrane
  since 2019 | coordinated at: University Medical Center Göttingen
- FOR 2738 - Understanding the Behaviour of Multinational Corporations in the Context of International Tax Institutions
  since 2019 | coordinated at: University of Tübingen
- FOR 2812 - Constructing Scenarios of the Past: A New Framework in Episodic Memory
  since 2019 | coordinated at: RU Bochum
Research Training Groups (RTG) / International Research Training Groups (IRTG)
- IRTG 2678 - Functional π-Systems: Activation, Interaction and Application (pi-Sys)
  since 2021 | international partner: Nagoya University, Japan
- RTG 2515 - Chemical Biology of Ion Channels (Chembion)
  since 2019
- RTG 2149 - Strong and Weak Interactions - from Hadrons to Dark Matter
  since 2015

EU funding programmes

European Research Council (ERC)

Detailed list of all ERC grant recipients of the University of Münster and their respective funded projects

ERC Advanced Grant (ongoing)
- Radical Chemistry with the Hydrogen Atom Through Water Activation (H-dot)
  Duration: 2024 - 2029 | Prof Dr Armido Studer
- Energy Transfer Catalysis: A Highway to Molecular Complexity (HighEnT)
  Duration: 2023 - 2028 | Prof Dr Frank Glorius
- Low Radon and Low Internal Radioactivity for Dark Matter and Rare Event Xenon Detectors (LowRad)
  Duration: 2022 - 2027 | Prof Dr Christian Weinheimer
- Breaking into the Brain-Basement Membranes and the Perivascular Niche (B3M)
  Duration: 2022 - 2027 | Prof Dr Lydia Sorokin
- Amenability, Approximation and Reconstruction (AMAREC)
  Duration: 2019 - 2024 | Prof Dr Wilhelm Winter
ERC Consolidator Grant (ongoing)
- Diffuson-related Transport in Ionically Conducting Solids (DIONISOS)
  Duration: 2024 - 2028 | Prof Dr Wolfgang Zeier
- Overcoming the Curse of Dimensionality through Nonlinear Stochastic Algorithms: Nonlinear Monte Carlo Type Methods for High-Dimensional Approximation Problems (MONTECARLO)
  Duration: 2023 - 2028 | Prof Dr Arnulf Jentzen
- Global Estimates for Non-linear Stochastic PDEs (GE4SPDE)
  Duration: 2022 - 2027 | Prof Dr Hendrik Weber
- Newton Strata - Geometry and Representations (NewtonStrat)
  Duration: 2022 - 2024 | Prof Dr Eva Viehmann
- Governance in Babylon: Negotiating the Rule of Three Empires (GoviB)
  Duration: 2021 - 2026 | Prof Dr Kristin Kleber
- Correcting Inequality through Law: How Courts Conceptualize Equality in Their Constitutional Jurisprudence (EQUALITY)
  Duration: 2019 - 2024 | Prof Dr Niels Petersen
- Reprogramming Conformation by Fluorination: Exploring New Areas of Chemical Space (Recon)
  Duration: 2019 - 2024 | Prof Dr Ryan Gilmour
- The Black Hole Stability Problem and the Analysis of Asymptotically Anti-De Sitter Spacetimes (BHSandAADS)
  Duration: 2018 - 2024 | Prof Dr Gustav Holzegel
ERC Starting Grant (ongoing)
- Comparison and Rigidity for Scalar Curvature (COMSCAL)
  Duration: 2024 - 2028 | Prof Dr Rudolf Zeidler
- Artificial Cell-Cell Interactions for Light Switchable Cell Organization and Signaling (ARTIST)
  Duration: 2018 - 2024 | Prof Dr Seraphine Valeska Wegner
ERC Proof of Concept Grant (ongoing)
- Next Generation Chiral Fluorine Groups for Molecular Design (ChiroFluor)
  Duration: 2024 - 2025 | Prof Dr Ryan Gilmour
ERC Synergy Grant (ongoing)
- Relics of Ancient Cellular Biochemistry in High-CO2 Subsurface Ecosystems (Archean Park)
  Duration: 2024 - 2030 | Prof Dr Ivan Berg
EU Horizon Europe / Horizon 2020

Coordinated at University of Münster (ongoing)
- Migration, Diaspora, Citizenship (MDC)
  Duration: 2024 - 2029 | funding scheme: EU Horizon Europe - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions - COFUND postdoctoral programme
- Translational Research Network in Motor Disorder Rehabilitation: Advancing Understanding of Variability in Motor Control and Learning to Enhance Clinical Practice (TReND)
  Duration: 2024 - 2028 | funding scheme: EU Horizon Europe - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions - Doctoral Networks
- PLAsticity of Perception in Real and Virtual spaCES (PLACES)
  Duration: 2023 - 2027 | funding scheme: EU Horizon Europe - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions - Staff Exchange
- A Stratified Treatment Algorithm in Psychiatry: A Program on Stratified Pharmacogenomics in Severe Mental Illness (Psych-STRATA)
  Duration: 2022 - 2027 | funding scheme: EU Horizon Europe - Research and innovation action
- Constructing Learning Outcomes in Europe - A Multi-level Analysis of (Under-)Achievement in the Life Course (CLEAR)
  Duration: 2022 - 2025 | funding scheme: EU Horizon Europe - Research and innovation action
- Translational Research on Endometriosis (TRENDO)
  Duration: 2021 - 2025 | funding scheme: EU H2020 - Research and Innovation Staff Exchange
- EU 1.5° Lifestyles: Policies and Tools for Mainstreaming 1.5° Lifestyles
  Duration: 2021 - 2025 | funding scheme: EU H2020 - Research and innovation action
- Photonic Enabled Petascale In-memory Computing with Femtojoule Energy Consumption (PHOENICS)
  Duration: 2021 - 2024 | funding scheme: EU H2020 - Research and innovation action
- Super-Resolving Quantum Imaging and Detection (SURQUID)
  Duration: 2020 - 2025 | funding scheme: EU H2020 - Research and innovation Staff Exchange
Other EU funding programmes

Coordinated at the University of Münster (ongoing)
- Pedagogical Alliance for XR Technologies in (Teacher) Education (PAX)
  Duration: 2024 - 2027 | funding scheme: EU - Erasmus+ - Alliances for Innovation
- Victim Protection in Medicine – Exploiting Practical Knowledge of Medical Staff to Enhance the Multi-professional Contact with Victims of Domestic Violence (VIPROM)
  Duration: 2022 - 2027 | funding scheme: EU - Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme (CERV)
- Erasmus Mundus Masters Course in Geospatial Technologies (GeoTec)
  Duration: 2021 - 2027 | funding scheme: EU - Erasmus+ - Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
- Network on Evidence-based Physical Activity in Old Age (PhysAgeNet)
  Duration: 2021 - 2025 | funding scheme: EU - COST Actions
- Empowering Elderly Adults in Emotional Selfcare & through the Acquisition of Digital Skills and Creativity (INTEGRA_LAB+)
  Duration: 2022 - 2024 | funding scheme: EU - Lifelong Learning Programme: Erasmus+
- Promotion of Physical Activity for the Third Age (PA4AGE)
  Duration: 2022 - 2024 | funding scheme: EU - Lifelong Learning Programme: Erasmus+
- AI-bility: Cultivating AI Awareness in Schoolchildren (AI-Bility)
  Duration: 2021 - 2024 | funding scheme: EU - Lifelong Learning Programme: Erasmus+

German federally funded programmes (selection)

Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
- Forschungsverbund Leistung macht Schule (LemaS)
  Duration: 2018 - 2027
- Antizipation 3-dimensionaler Wellenfelder (ErUM-Wave)
  Duration: 2023 - 2026
- Käte Hamburger Kolleg "Legal Unity and Pluralism" (EViR)
  Duration: 2021 - 2025
- CarbForBatt - Maßgeschneiderte Kohlenstoffe für Hochenergieanoden in Lithium-Ionen-Batterien und für Batteriesysteme der nächsten Generation
  Duration: 2022 - 2024
- ALANO - Alternative Anodenkonzepte für sichere Feststoffbatterien
  Duration: 2021 - 2024
- Verbundprojekt: Quanten-Schlüsselaustausch mit Gigabit-Datenraten über ein mehrkanaliges vollintegriertes System (QSAMIS)
  Duration: 2021 - 2024
- Ressentiment als affektive Grundlage von Radikalisierung
  Duration: 2020 - 2024
- LimLi - Überwinden von Limitierungen in Li-lonen Batterien
  Duration: 2019 - 2024
Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWi)

Collaborative research

DFG funding programmes

The Clusters of Excellence of the University of Münster

Collaborative Research Centres (CRC) / Transregios (CRC TRR)

Coordinated at the University of Münster (ongoing)

Involvement of the University of Münster (ongoing)

Priority Programmes (SPP)

Coordinated at the University of Münster (ongoing)

Involvement of University of Münster (ongoing)

Research Units (FOR) / Centres for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (KFG) / Clinical Research Units (KFO)

Coordinated at the University of Münster (ongoing)

Involvement of the University of Münster (ongoing)

Research Training Groups (RTG) / International Research Training Groups (IRTG)

EU funding programmes

European Research Council (ERC)

EU Horizon Europe / Horizon 2020

Coordinated at University of Münster (ongoing)

Other EU funding programmes

Coordinated at the University of Münster (ongoing)

German federally funded programmes (selection)

Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWi)