TU Dresden to receive first grant for Center for the Organization of Living Matter in Dresden; up to EUR 77.2 million funding

Recommendation of the German Science and Humanities Council: New building for research into the physics of life

Cross-section of the new COLM research building, showing the entrance hall and connecting corridor. The project is being developed by the Saxon State Real Estate and Construction Management Agency.

TUD to receive its first grant for a research facility part of a program for projects of national significance funded by the Federal and State governments

Ultramodern facilities for the innovative research of tomorrow: On April 24, 2026, the German Science and Humanities Council recommended funding for a new research building at TUD Dresden University of Technology. This means that up to EUR 77.2 million has been made available for the planned Center for the Organization of Living Matter (COLM). To understand the physical foundations of life, interdisciplinary researchers hailing from the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, medicine, and computer science will collaborate at COLM. The new building will provide the Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life with an outstanding research infrastructure.

In addition to a building layout designed to promote open and direct communication, the grant approval will enable the purchase of several large-scale equipment items, including a two-photon laser scanning microscope, which researchers can use to observe and modify the physical properties of cells as they form organs or tumors.

Subject to the final decision of the Joint Science Conference (GWK), the total costs of the construction project will be borne equally by the federal government and the Free State of Saxony. Construction is scheduled to take place from 2027 to 2031.

Jan Gerken, Chancellor of TUD: “The COLM research building represents several innovations in one: It creates a hub for cutting-edge research into the organization of living matter and, with a new spatial concept for laboratory buildings developed by rheform GmbH, sets new standards in space efficiency and operational cost-effectiveness. At the same time, the project demonstrates what can be achieved in a short period of time through close collaboration between all involved.”

Prof. Otger Campàs,Speaker of the PoL Cluster of Excellence:“We are really happy about this funding. This is an important milestone for us and for Dresden, as it will help us consolidate the large community engaged in the physics of life. Having our own building plays a vital role in building such a unified community and in creating unique spaces that will foster interdisciplinary research, innovation, collaboration, and opportunities for many.

Minister of Science Sebastian Gemkow:“Excellent research needs excellent conditions, both in terms of research facilities and equipment. The German Science and Humanities Council has clearly acknowledged this in its decision. Successful Clusters of Excellence, such as Physics of Life at TU Dresden, are international beacons of research in their respective fields. They need the best possible conditions to remain competitive in the global race for top talent.”

The building complex will be located on the TUD Tatzberg Campus in Dresden-Johannstadt, right next to the Medical Campus. The building section now recommended by the German Science and Humanities Council is designed to accommodate a total of 138 workstations across 2,775 m². The floor plan, featuring open-plan laboratories and offices, is designed to promote academic exchange. Research positions should be allocated based on their function, not tied to specific individuals.

About the Physics of Life (PoL) Cluster of Excellence

Physics of Life (PoL) is one of five Clusters of Excellence at TU Dresden. PoL’s objective is to identify the physical laws that underlie the organization of life in molecules, cells, and tissues. In this Cluster, scientists working in physics, biology, and computer science are investigating how active matter in cells and tissues organizes itself into specific structures and gives rise to life. PoL is funded by the DFG as part of the Excellence Strategy. It is a collaboration between researchers based at TU Dresden and the research institutes of the DRESDEN-concept alliance, including the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG), the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems (MPI-PKS), the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research (IPF) and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR).

In light of recent advances and the growing use of artificial intelligence in fundamental research, PoL has established a new core research area: bio-data science and physics-inspired AI. This core research area aims to develop innovative computational approaches, including topological data analysis, data-driven modeling, and artificial intelligence, to extract meaningful insights from complex and high-dimensional datasets. For more information:www.physics-of-life.tu-dresden.de

Impressions of the Physics of Life (PoL) Cluster of Excellence

Contact:TU DresdenPress OfficeTel.: +49 351 463-32398Email: pressestelle@tu-dresden.de

Last modified: Apr 28, 2026