The first hurdle is taken

The German Research Foundation (DFG) calls on the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) to submit a full application for the planned Cluster of Excellence "ORIGINS". ORIGINS is to explore the origin of the universe as far as the first building blocks of life from January 2019 onwards.

The DFG is giving the green light to the application "ORIGINS" as part of the excellence strategy of the Federal Government and the states of Germany. The LMU, TUM and its partner institutes are now invited to submit a full application to the DFG by 21 February 2018. The final decision on the full application is expected in September 2018.  

Understanding the evolution of our Universe from the Big Bang to the emergence of life is one of the noblest endeavors of mankind. In a unique collaboration of bio-, particle-and astrophysicists, ORIGINS will explore the history and innermost structure of the Universe and search for answers to where we come from and whether we are alone in the Universe.

The Munich and Garching locations offer a unique environment for this scientific challenge with its universities of LMU and TUM, Max Planck Institutes, ESO and LRZ. ORIGINS is based on the already existing structures of the UNIVERSE excellence cluster.

Further infomation:
Press Release DFG (in german!)

Press Release TUM (in german!)

Total list of projects requested for the application