The five winners in the second round are:
- Software-Cluster (Software Innovation for the Digital Enterprise)
- Munich Biotech Cluster
- Medical Valley (Nuremberg region)
- Southwest MicroTEC (Microsystems technologies)
- Logistics Cluster Ruhr (EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr)
The excellence cluster competition is intended to take Germany to the top of the league of technologically advanced nations. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research launched the competition in the summer of 2007 under the slogan "Germany's excellence clusters - more innovation, more growth, more employment". The high-performance clusters formed by business and science that enter into strategic partnerships are set to boost Germany's innovative strengths and economic success.
The plan is to hold three rounds of competition some eighteen months apart. In each round of the competition, up to EUR 200 million will be made available to up to five excellence clusters over a period no longer than five years. The implementation envisages a matching level of financial participation on the part of businesses and private investors. The BMBF launched the second round of competition in mid-January 2009.
Leading edge cluster competition (BMBF website)
