Successful in the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments: with two excellence clusters, the University of Bremen offers a wide range of opportunities for world-class research.
Research
Strong in Research
Researchers at the University of Bremen are looking for answers to the big questions facing today's communities. For more than 50 years, the University of Bremen has been an inspiring place for research - diverse, collaborative and eager to experiment. It is a young, fully-fledged university that is internationally linked and very successful in attracting third-party funding. This applies both to excellent individual researchers and to larger collaborative initiatives.
In particular, the University of Bremen is strong when it comes to research in its five key scientific areas, including two clusters of excellence in the key scientific areas of “Marine, Polar and Climate Research” and “Materials Science and Technologies”.
Contact persons for all research services at the University of Bremen can be found on the website of Unit 12 Research and Early-Career Researchers.
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© Michael Ihle 2017
The University of Bremen bundles its research activities in twelve departments, the MARUM Research Faculty, and numerous research institutes. The Research Commission, appointed by the Academic Senate, works closely with the Rectorate to further develop the strategic framework across departments, strengthen cooperation, interdisciplinarity, and knowledge transfer, and support the evaluation of central units.
Researchers address key issues for the future in five interdisciplinary high-profile reserach areas—ranging from marine and climate research to sustainable production and materials research, social dynamics and digital transformation, and health and healthcare research—working closely with partners outside the university. As a research-intensive university, the University of Bremen is involved in numerous nationally and internationally funded third-party projects.
Learn more about our research facilities and projects, our High-Profile Areas, and our third-party funding.
The University of Bremen is successfully participating in the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments with two Clusters of Excellence. Since 2012, scientists in the cluster ‘The Ocean Floor - Earth's Uncharted Interface' have been researching fundamental processes and the interaction of the ocean floor with the entire Earth system. This cluster has been based at MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences since 2019.
Since 2026, a second Cluster of Excellence will be funded: ‘The Martian Mindset - A Scarcity-Driven Engineering Paradigm’ at the MAPEX Cente for Materials and Processes. The cluster will work on new resilient and highly automated sustainability models that use the scarcity of resources on Mars as a model.
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© Pollmeier / Universität Bremen
University’s Central Research Development Fund
The Central Research Development Fund of the University of Bremen supports researchers at all career stages and assists with profile building, promoting young talent, and strengthening third-party funding acquisition. In particular, it supports sustainable, interdisciplinary, and innovative projects that contribute to overcoming disciplinary boundaries.
You will also find an overview of other calls for proposals from the University of Bremen here.
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© Michael Ihle / Universität Bremen
Funding Advisory Service
The Funding Advisory Service offers support and advice on national funding opportunities—such as those offered by the German Research Foundation (DFG) or federal funding programs—as well as on European Union programs and other international calls for proposals.
The Office for Equal Opportunities and Diversity at the University of Bremen also offers its own consulting service for applicants and recipients of DFG coordinated program funding.
Here you will also find information and support services on the topic of research data management and on the obligations under the Nagoya Protocol.
© Matej Meza / Universität Bremen
Pursuing a Doctorate at the University of Bremen
The targeted promotion and scientific qualification of early career researchers and support on their path to scientific independence are central concerns of the university.
As a central center for young researchers, BYRD – Bremen Early Career Researcher Development supports prospective doctoral candidates, doctoral students, postdocs, and experienced scientists with personal advice, qualification and networking opportunities, and comprehensive service information.
You can find more information about BYRD here.
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© Adobe Stock/putilov_denis
Open Science & Open Access
The University of Bremen stands for an open and transparent scientific culture. Open access makes it possible to provide research results free of charge and without access restrictions. Freely accessible publications achieve greater visibility, reach a broader specialist audience, and are often more widely received.
The university actively supports its researchers in open access publishing. The State and University Library of Bremen offers advice on publication options, financing issues, and legal aspects.
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Good Academic Practice
Integrity, transparency, and responsibility characterize research and teaching at the University of Bremen. Compliance with good academic practice is a binding standard for our actions.
At the same time, we stand for responsible research in dialogue with society and international partners, as well as for a differentiated evaluation of academic achievements that takes research, teaching, and transfer into account in equal measure.
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© Matej Meza/Universität Bremen
Sustainability in Research
Sustainability, climate justice, and climate neutrality shape the research profile of the University of Bremen. With cutting-edge research, including in the MARUM Cluster of Excellence "The Ocean Floor" and in networks funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), it is one of the leading locations for climate and marine research. Various centers, real-world laboratories, and strong partnerships combine sustainable basic research with practical applications. Sustainability is also strategically anchored in research and funding.
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