Excellence arises through connectivity

Jena is a University of Excellence. The decision dated October 2, 2026, recognizes the development of Friedrich Schiller University and opens up new opportunities to further advance its cutting-edge research. The application was based on the two Clusters of Excellence, “Balance of the Microverse” and “Imaginamics.” With its proposal “Light. Life. Liberty. – Connecting People and Ideas,” the university specifically focused on fostering connections across disciplinary and institutional boundaries.

What does this success mean for day-to-day research? How can the new status strengthen collaboration between the university and non-university institutions—and how will students, researchers, and alumni benefit from it? We discuss these topics with Prof. Dr. Andreas Tünnermann, Director of the Institute of Applied Physics and the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF.

Mr. Tünnermann, what does this title mean to you personally—and to the Institute of Applied Physics? In your view, what was the key factor in Jena achieving the status of a University of Excellence?

I am very proud and delighted for the entire university! This distinction also gives us significantly greater national and international visibility. It helps us attract the best minds to exciting research projects. In the future, Jena will be recognized even more strongly as a key research hub, which clearly strengthens our position in international competition.

Jena’s application emphasizes that scientific excellence arises from collaboration. Where do you see particularly compelling examples of this—for instance, between the university, Fraunhofer IOF, and other research institutions?

This success is largely due to the team effort of the entire university. The jury was particularly impressed by our collaboration across faculty boundaries. Thanks to the coordination by President Andreas Marx, we were able to demonstrate what we’re achieving in Jena.

Non-university research institutions are closely integrated through strategic partnerships that go far beyond typical project collaboration. Support from the state government was also crucial, as emphasised by the passionate speech given by our Minister President, Mario Voigt, during his welcome address to the jury.

This collaboration is also evident in everyday life: for example, outstanding researchers from various institutions are working together in the field of quantum technologies, exploring different application scenarios. I would like to specifically highlight Falk Eilenberger (IOF), Fabian Steinlechner and Frank Setzpfandt (both IAP), Stefanie Gräfe (Physical Chemistry), and Martin Gärttner (Theoretical Physics). The visible successes in quantum computing and quantum communication have already led to the spin-off Quantum Optics Jena GmbH, which uses quantum encryption to enable secure authentication processes, thereby raising the security of digital communication to a new level.

What can the university now better facilitate through its status as a Center of Excellence that was previously more difficult?

For years, our efforts have been aimed at achieving greater visibility within the research community. We have received many prestigious awards and, for example, have been successful on multiple occasions in obtaining ERC grants at the European level. However, these successes have so far been perceived more as individual achievements. Now we have official confirmation of our outstanding overall performance.

How can we strengthen cutting-edge research without losing sight of important tasks such as quality teaching and reliable working conditions?

This is precisely the goal of our application for excellence: We want to improve the framework conditions for staff development, knowledge transfer, and research by specifically strengthening and further developing structures and processes—not only in education and research themselves.

What specific changes will students and junior researchers notice as a result of the new status? What opportunities will this create for Jena and Thuringia?

Internally, the university will be structured in such a way that students and staff encounter more agile and supportive structures that strengthen the community. Satisfied employees are our best ambassadors to the outside world and enhance the appeal of our alma mater.

How will you know in a few years that the award is actually having an impact?

We will be better positioned in terms of promoting excellence and educational quality—as evidenced by stable enrollment numbers, because that is the only way a university can be sustainable. And, of course, we want to demonstrate our high quality once again in the next evaluation process.