FAU one of the top ten universities in Germany
DFG funding increases across the board – engineering retains its traditionally strong position
In the current Funding Atlas 2021 from the German Research Foundation (DFG), FAU is ranked as one of the ten leading research universities in Germany. With funding approved by the DFG amounting to a total of 240.6 million euros, FAU has secured a place among the elite. In particular, the humanities and social sciences, natural sciences, and life sciences have improved their rank, whilst engineering has retained its traditionally strong position.
The overall picture is very positive, with funding volumes increasing across all areas at FAU. Altogether, the University has managed to attract almost 11 percent more in funding than in previous years. Seen as a percentage, the humanities and social sciences have gained the most, growing by approximately 35 percent to a total of 13.1 million euros. Natural sciences have also increased by just under 17 percent to a total of 41.2 million euros awarded by the DFG, whilst life sciences climbed 16 percent to the considerable sum of 79.7 million euros.
Engineering remained at the top of the list for third-party funding at FAU after successfully attracting funding totalling 92.9 million euros in the current funding period. This is equivalent to a growth of 7.5 percent. We are particularly pleased that engineers based here in Franconia continue to receive recognition for their cutting-edge performance. In the category of third-party funding per professor, the Faculty of Engineering has once more obtained first place in the national ranking, whilst FAU has moved up two places in the national ranking to come in at second place for third-party funding acquired by all researchers in this area. In the case of funding from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, engineering has also moved up two places to rank third.
Highlights from the faculties
Materials science and chemical solid state and surface research have once more retained their position at the top of the league table, obtaining funding worth 19.3 million and 10.5 million euros respectively. The two subjects which improved the most significantly were geography and law. Compared to the previous funding period, they leapt forward by more than 20 places to 4th and 8th place respectively. Biological chemistry and food chemistry, physical and theoretical chemistry, computer science, medicine, and mechanics and constructive mechanical engineering all improved as well.
‘Qualifying as one of the top ten universities in Germany demonstrates what FAU stands for: for researchers who not only have daring ideas and delve into their topics in great depth but who are also highly successful at competing for funding. It is only by doing so that we will be able to find clever solutions for the most pressing issues facing us today,’ stresses Dr. Joachim Hornegger, FAU President.
Bavaria’s science minister Bernd Sibler explains, ‘the fact that our universities are so successful at acquiring prestigious DFG funding is testimony to the excellent quality of research in Bavaria, home to cutting-edge science, and to the enormous personal dedication of our researchers. It also clearly shows that the research policy of the Free State of Bavaria is not only successful today, but also geared to the future.’
About the DFG Funding Atlas
Which areas in Germany conduct the most publicly funded research? How much third-party funding is provided in which federal states and regions, how much funding do various universities and extramural research institutes receive, who provides the funding and what do institutions use it for? What impact does this funding have on the overall funding of the German academic and scientific research system? The DFG Funding Atlas 2021 provides answers to questions such as these. The new Funding Atlas is the ninth volume in which the DFG, the largest research funding provider and central self-governing body for science in Germany, has published key figures on publicly financed research every three years since 1997. Based on data running into the tens of thousands from all major public research funding providers in Germany and the European Union, the latest Funding Atlas 2021 is once more the most comprehensive collection of its kind. The report covers the period from 2017 to 2019.
Further information
Amelie Feder
Data and Management Information
Phone: +49 9131 85 24881
amelie.feder@fau.de.