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Hesse focuses on excellence: Six new research clusters for HAWen!
Science Council meets on July 11, 2025 in Fulda: Strengthening the HAWen, new doctoral law and funding for top research in Hesse.
Hesse focuses on excellence: Six new research clusters for HAWen!
At today's meeting of the Science Council in Fulda, significant progress in the Hessian university landscape was presented. Hesse has developed impressively in recent years and can now proudly say that the number of clusters of excellence has increased from one to six. The success would not have been conceivable without the sustained support of the state government, particularly the LOEWE program. For almost 20 years, this program has invested between 60 and 70 million euros annually in cutting-edge research in Hesse.
A central aspect of the funding policy is targeted cooperation in research and the expansion of institutional networks. Two important associations, the Rhine-Main Universities and the Central Hesse Association, have the opportunity to submit applications in the second funding line of the Excellence Strategy. This close collaboration includes universities in Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Mainz, Gießen and Marburg, which not only initiate joint research projects but also establish coordinated appointment policies and numerous joint study programs.
Right to award doctorates for universities of applied sciences
Another bright spot in Hessian higher education policy is the right to award doctorates for universities of applied sciences (HAW). Hesse was the first federal state to introduce such a right, albeit for a limited period and tied to criteria. There are currently seven doctoral centers in Hesse that offer students the opportunity to write their doctoral thesis. Almost 300 doctoral students are already enrolled in these centers and the number is increasing. Since 2021, mid-level staff at the HAWen have been funded with over 13 million euros annually to further support research.
A look across the Hesse state borders shows that the Hamburg citizenship has also taken a step in this direction. The change to the Hamburg Higher Education Act now enables the HAW Hamburg to independently carry out doctorates in research areas that are considered particularly strong. The Science Council assessed this positively and confirmed the suitability of the planned structures for the right to award doctorates. The institutions intend to create new qualification opportunities through their Research School, which includes various interdisciplinary doctoral programs with topics such as climate protection and data analysis.
A comprehensive right to award doctorates?
Interest in doctoral opportunities at HAW is constantly growing. Around one percent of doctoral students in Germany are involved in a HAW. Almost half of new students now choose a HAW as their training location. And although many graduates still had to go to university in order to obtain their doctorate, several federal states now offer regulations that enable HAW to have their own right to award doctorates. A total of eight federal states, including Hesse, are active in this regard, while in other federal states such as Bavaria, Berlin and Bremen the right to award doctorates is theoretically available but is not yet put into practice.
Overall, it can be seen that the topic of doctoral law is becoming increasingly less important not only in Hesse, but also in other federal states. More and more universities of applied sciences are perceived as serious players in the academic landscape who are capable of making their own research contributions. For the future of the Hessian university landscape, one thing is certain: Things continue to improve here!