On August 25, 2026, three newly established doctoral clusters of Rhineland-Palatinate’s universities of applied sciences launched with a joint kickoff event at Mainz University of Applied Sciences. Representatives of the participating universities came together to officially mark the start of this cross-institutional collaboration, to constitute the clusters’ governing bodies, and to lay the groundwork for the first PhD projects. The guests at the event included State Secretary Dr. Tamara Müller of the Ministry of Science, Continuing Education, and Health.
With the three doctoral clusters, the participating universities are pooling their research expertise and creating a shared framework for training early-career researchers. The clusters lay the groundwork for independent PhDs at universities of applied sciences and complement the basic research conducted at universities, while strengthening application-oriented research in Rhineland-Palatinate.
The three clusters cover different research areas and are each coordinated by one university. The “Applied Informatics” doctoral cluster is coordinated by Trier University of Applied Sciences, with Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, Koblenz University of Applied Sciences, and Mainz University of Applied Sciences as partners. The “Biomedical and Environmental Life Sciences” doctoral cluster is coordinated by Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, with Bingen Technical University of Applied Sciences, Koblenz University of Applied Sciences, and Trier University of Applied Sciences as partner institutions. The “Sustainable Systems and Technologies” doctoral cluster is coordinated by Koblenz University of Applied Sciences and run jointly with Bingen Technical University of Applied Sciences, Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, Mainz University of Applied Sciences, and Trier University of Applied Sciences.
Start-up funding creates the conditions for the first PhD projects
One special part of the kickoff event was the presentation of grant notifications under the “HAW Promotion” funding program by the ministry responsible. Through these funds, which will finance the first doctoral candidates, the state is supporting the establishment of the new doctoral structures and creating concrete conditions for the first doctoral projects to get begin.
“With the three doctoral clusters, we are creating a strong, quality-assured framework for doctoral degrees at universities of applied sciences in Rhineland-Palatinate. Mainz University of Applied Sciences is glad to contribute its research expertise to this inter-university collaboration,” said Professor Dr. Katharina Dahm, President of Mainz University of Applied Sciences. Professor Dr. Anett Mehler-Bicher, Vice President, Research and Transfer at Mainz University of Applied Sciences, added: “Doctoral degrees at universities of applied sciences strengthen research precisely where scientific findings address concrete challenges facing business and society. Together, we are opening up new paths for talented early-career researchers while also strengthening application-oriented research in our state.”
“Over the past twelve months, the state and the universities have achieved a great deal in creating the legal and organizational conditions for the right to award doctorates at universities of applied sciences in Rhineland-Palatinate. I am pleased that the HAW doctoral clusters are now in the home stretch of their implementation. The state is supporting them through this process and backing the start-up phase with our “HAW Promotion” funding program. Today’s funding of approximately 1.4 million Euro from the state will ensure that future doctoral candidates at universities of applied sciences can research and pursue their doctorates quickly and with reliable funding. In doing so, we are making an important contribution to building sustainable structures for training early-career researchers in applied research. I wish everyone involved in the three doctoral clusters much success,” said Dr. Tamara Müller, State Secretary at the Ministry of Science, Continuing Education, and Health.
Legal basis and quality assurance
The legal framework for the rights of universities of applied sciences to award doctorates in Rhineland-Palatinate is set out in the State Ordinance on the Conferral of Rights to Award Doctorates to Universities of Applied Sciences (Landesverordnung über die Verleihung des Promotionsrechts an Hochschulen für angewandte Wissenschaften (HAWPromRLVO)). Among other provisions, it defines requirements for the research capacity of the doctoral clusters and for the professors involved in them.
The implementation of the right of universities of applied sciences to award doctorates is initially being supported by the responsible ministry through the “promotion@HAW-rlp” project until 2029. The funding supports the development of the required structures and with that, the establishment of the right to award doctorates at the participating universities of applied sciences.
As part of the establishment process, the applications for the three doctoral clusters underwent a scientific review by an external panel of experts. This independent review provided an important basis for establishing the doctoral clusters and also contributes to assuring the quality of their research profiles and structures.
Strengthening research and supporting early-career researchers
With the launch of the three doctoral clusters, the participating universities are building on their long-standing and successful collaboration in research and the promotion of early-career researchers. The clusters create a structured framework in which professors can bring together their research expertise across institutions and provide doctoral candidates with academic supervision in a quality-assured, application-oriented environment.
The kickoff event at Mainz University of Applied Sciences marks the beginning of a new phase of collaboration. The three doctoral clusters combine the research expertise of the Rhineland-Palatinate universities of applied sciences, strengthen application-oriented research, and open up new opportunities for early-career researchers.
Press contact
Professor Dr. Anett Mehler-Bicher
Vice President, Research and Transfer
Mainz University of Applied Sciences
T +49 6131 628-5018
M vp-forschung (at) hs-mainz.de
