Cluster of Excellence Resolv team from RUB and TU Dortmund together seeking funding

On Monday, 19^th February, the Resolv team from RUB and TU Dortmund University looked back at their cooperation during the New Year’s reception at TU Dortmund: Since 2012, the Cluster of Excellence has already produced more than 700 publications, 155 of which are in high-impact journals. On Wednesday, 21^st February, Resolv submitted the full proposal for new funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Resolv is hoping for a further seven years of funding from the DFG. RUB and TU Dortmund are applying jointly. The multitude of publications demonstrates the research strength of the cooperation within the cluster: Around 120 of the total 700 publications involved at least two Resolv groups. Since the beginning, the team has received more than 90 awards, including twelve grants from the European Research Council.

“The journey into the new interdisciplinary research field Solvation Science began at RUB,” reminded Prof Dr Martina Havenith, Speaker at Resolv, at the New Year’s reception. “We have been working with our colleagues from TU Dortmund right from the start. Now, we face new scientific challenges together.”

Vision of the new application

At the event in Dortmund, Havenith examined the future vision of the new Resolv proposal. “We are bridging the gap between microscopic solvation concepts and macroscopic properties. This is essential in order to improve key technologies from green chemistry to bio-based artificial systems for chemical energy conversion,” said Havenith.

New professorships planned

TU Dortmund is already a strong partner in the Cluster of Excellence. If successful, the focal area Solvation Science will be expanded in the next round by further professorships at the Faculties of Physics, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, as well as Biochemical and Chemical Engineering.

“The successful work of Resolv has characterised RUB in multiple ways,” said Rector Axel Schölmerich at the New Year’s reception at the Cluster of Excellence.

© Oliver Schaper, Technische Universität Dortmund

Great atmosphere at the New Year’s reception: Axel Schölmerich, Rector at RUB, and Ursula Gather, Rector at TU Dortmund University

© Oliver Schaper, Technische Universität Dortmund

The Dortmund-based Rector Ursula Gather wished all of those involved “every success for the new application round,” with a view to the excellence strategy.

© Oliver Schaper, Technische Universität Dortmund

Characterised by the Technical University, TU: the Resolv New Year’s reception 2018 took place in Dortmund.

© Oliver Schaper, Technische Universität Dortmund

Prof Dr Rainer Blatt, Vice President of the Austrian Science Board, spoke about “Opportunities of Excellence Strategies”.

© Oliver Schaper, Technische Universität Dortmund

A lively discussion: the cooperation partners from the universities celebrated together with guests and friends.

© Oliver Schaper, Technische Universität Dortmund

The Bochum-based chemist Martina Havenith (left) in conversation with the Dortmund-based Rector Ursula Gather. The partners from both universities want to achieve a great deal together.

© Oliver Schaper, Technische Universität Dortmund

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“With the additional professorships, we are enhancing the profile of the faculties with regard to Resolv. RUB and TU Dortmund are thus optimally complementing their skills as equal partners while also contributing structurally to the further development of the cluster,” explained the Rector of TU Dortmund, Prof Dr Ursula Gather. She wished all of those involved “every success for the new application round”.

Together at the Resolv New Year’s reception 2018: Prof Dr Elmar Weiler, former Rector at RUB, Prof Dr Gabriele Sadowski, Vice-Rector for research at TU Dortmund, Prof Dr Rainer Blatt, Vice-President of the Austrian Science Board, Prof Dr Ulf Eysel, former Vice-Rector for research at RUB and Chair of the Society of Friends at RUB, Prof Dr Martina Havenith, Speaker at Resolv, Prof Dr Axel Schölmerich, Rector at RUB, Prof Dr Ursula Gather, Rector at TU Dortmund, and Prof Dr Winfried Schulze, Director at the Mercator Research Center Ruhr (from left) © Oliver Schaper, Technische Universität Dortmund

RUB Rector Prof Dr Axel Schölmerich also supported this sentiment and added: “The successful work of Resolv has characterised RUB in multiple ways. Besides establishing the field of research, it has also been possible to establish best-practice models to promote early career researchers and gain outstanding research personalities, and these models will now be developed further in partnership with TU Dortmund.”

88 clusters in the race

Since September 2017, the Resolv team has been drafting the full application for the Cluster of Excellence, which will be reviewed by an international committee in June 2018. In September, a commission involving the expert committee and the science ministers of the German federal and state governments will decide which clusters will receive funding in the future. Out of the 88 candidates, 45 to 50 Clusters of Excellence will ultimately be approved and receive a total of around 385 million euros per year. The funding begins on 1^st January 2019.