FWF Clusters of Excellence

Clusters of Excellence are inter-university collaboration projects as part of the excellence initiative excellent=austria of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research which aims at promoting cutting-edge research and strengthening Austria as an academic location. The University of Vienna is involved in all seven Clusters of Excellence and is responsible for coordinating the Microbiomes Drive Planetary Health Cluster. 

Clusters of Excellence are characterised by the successful combination of cutting-edge research on topics of the future, research-led education, the promotion of early stage researchers as well as the exchange of knowledge at the national and international level. Equal opportunities and diversity as well as knowledge and technology transfer in form of collaboration projects with business and society are key concerns.

Circular Bioengineering

The objective of the Cluster of Excellence (COE) Circular Bioengineering is to revolutionize the production and the life-cycle of goods by disaggregation, reconstruction and synthesis of bio-based materials. The COE achieves this through a cross-disciplinary coordinated thrust directed by groundbreaking research in the molecular biosciences and biotechnology. The successful bioeconomy here conceived builds on sustainably produced resources and on environmentally benign processes to perform conversion reactions and material-modifying processes. It also links the principles of a minimum requirement of substance and energy to a zero-waste stream production. The COE’s unique approach at Circular Bioengineering interconnects pioneering research on technology-integrated biosystems such as enzymes and cells with the assessment of environmental, economic and societal impact of the corresponding bioprocesses to catalyze the transition to a sustainable bioeconomy.

Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage (MECS)

  • Board of Directors and participating research institutions: Günther Rupprechter (Director of Research, TU Wien) Ulrike Diebold (TU Wien), Stefan Freunberger (ISTA), Leticia González (Universitity of Vienna), Julia Kunze-Liebhäuser (University Innsbruck)
  • Members from the Faculty of Chemistry: Davide Bonifazi (Unit Head)
  • Austrian Science Fund (FWF) funding amount: 20.6 million euros
  • Website: coe-mecs.at
  • Media Portal Univie: New materials for climate neutrality

The continued combustion of fossil fuels to satisfy a growing energy demand has led the world to the brink of a climate crisis. We can no longer transfer carbon from the lithosphere into the atmosphere to obtain our energy, chemicals, materials, and fuels. Our paradigm must change to re-cycle elements already present in the atmosphere or biosphere, i.e., C, H, O, and N, to produce recyclable carriers for renewable energy. Closing the associated water and CO2 cycles will be among the key enablers for this grand challenge, as this holds the key to converting energy to synthetic fuels. Our vision is to create a scientific beacon of excellence for understanding and designing efficient energy conversion, leading the way towards a fossil fuel-free society.

Microbiomes Drive Planetary Health

  • Board of Directors und beteiligte Forschungsstätten: Michael Wagner (Director of Research, Universität Wien), Christina Kaiser (Universität Wien), Christine Moissl-Eichinger (Medizinische Universität Graz), Alexander Bergthaler (ÖAW, CeMM), Angela Sessitsch (AIT), Leonid Sazanov (IST Austria), Alexander Moschen (JKU Linz), Bernhard Lendl (TU Wien)
  • Members from the Faculty of Chemistry: Thomas Böttcher (Key Researcher)
  • Austrian Science Fund (FWF) funding amount: 21 million euros
  • Website: microplanet.at
  • Media Portal Univie: Understanding the importance of microbiomes for planetary health

The Cluster Microbiomes Drive Planetary Health aims to revolutionize microbiome research by bridging the gap between environmental and medical microbiome research to improve planetary health. Our goal is to gain a deep, causal understanding of microbiome functions and their responses to human-driven changes, using this knowledge to develop sustainable solutions for global challenges. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and breaking down traditional research barriers, the cluster will create innovative methods and interventions to precisely manipulate microbiomes, driving transformative impacts on both ecosystems and human health.