Bonn does excellent research and our Computer Science department is right in the middle of it. In four of Bonn's eight Clusters of Excellence, it provides impetus for AI, robotics, universe models and mathematical excellence. The Department of Computer Science is also represented nationally in a Cluster of Excellence at Ruhr University Bochum.
From new efficient algorithms and autonomous robotic systems for agriculture to fundamental questions of physics and AI-supported astrophysics, the scientists in the Department of Computer Science not only provide methodological foundations, but also drive interdisciplinary research forward. Computer Science has become indispensable when it comes to modeling complex systems, analyzing large amounts of data or developing autonomous technical solutions.
Robotics and the future of plant production
Take the PhenoRob Cluster of Excellence, for example, where the combination of Computer Science, Agricultural Sciences and Engineering leads to innovations for sustainable agriculture. Autonomous robotic systems are being developed here that are set to revolutionize agricultural production with the help of artificial intelligence and sensor-based analysis — environmentally friendly, efficient and sustainable. In addition to our distinctive expertise in the field of robotics, we also develop components for navigation, data interpretation and decision support in the field. The following professors from the Department of Computer Science are involved: as Principle Investigators (PI) Prof. Dr. Sven Behnke (Intelligent Systems and Robotics), Prof. Dr. Maren Bennewitz (Intelligent Systems and Robotics), Prof. Dr. Jürgen Gall (Information Systems and Artificial Intelligence) and Prof. Dr. Stefan Wrobel (Information Systems and Artificial Intelligence); as Associate Member Prof. Dr. Christian Bauckhage (Information Systems and Artificial Intelligence) and as Member JProf. Dr. Herman Blum (Intelligent Systems and Robotics).
Hausdorff Center for Mathematics
At the world-renowned Hausdorff Center for Mathematics (HCM), Computer Science is primarily represented through the theoretical and algorithmic disciplines. The close connection between mathematical modelling and computer science methods enables new approaches in combinatorial optimization, e.g. for improved network design, the solution of the Travelling Salesman Problem or for new logistics solutions. In addition, computer-aided approaches for the formalization of mathematical proofs are being developed. The following professors from the Department of Computer Science are involved: as Board of Director Prof. Dr. Jens Vygen, as PI Prof. Dr. Heiko Röglin (Algorithms and Complexity), from 2026 Prof. Dr. László Végh, as Member Prof. Dr. Anne Driemel (Algorithms and Complexity), Prof. Dr. Stephan Held, Prof. Dr. Stefan Hougardy, Prof. Dr. Thomas Kesselheim (Algorithms and Complexity), and Prof. Dr. Petra Mutzel (Computational Analytics).
In addition to these two Clusters of Excellence, which have already existed since 2019, the Department of Computer Science is also involved in the two Clusters of Excellence that will be added in 2026.
Astroinformatics and particle physics
The new Our Dynamic Universe (Dynaverse) cluster opens up a particularly fascinating interdisciplinary space. Here, astrophysical processes from the formation of galaxies to the movement of stars and planets are investigated — over time scales spanning billions of years. In the astroinformatics pillar, the scientists Prof. Dr. Lucie Flek (Language Technologies) and JProf. Dr. Zorah Lähner (Visual Computing) contribute their expertise in Data Science, large language models and in Machine Learning in relation to geometry and physics. Of particular interest: the scientists are involved in the development of The Shared Universe Engine (SUE), a cloud-based platform that links a data lab with data analysis tools and access to modern computing hardware with state-of-the-art simulations. An interface makes the data and research results accessible to experts (Expert Mode), teachers (Education Mode) and the public.
In the newly funded Color Meets Flavor cluster, researchers are investigating fundamental questions of particle physics: Why is there more matter than antimatter? What role does the Higgs boson play? And which unknown particles could still be hidden in the data? Answering these questions requires not only experiments at accelerators such as the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, but also complex data analysis, pattern recognition and model comparisons — all tasks for which computer science methods are indispensable. The Computer Science department is represented by Prof. Dr. Petra Mutzel (Computational Analytics) and Prof. Dr. Christian Bauckhage.
Transregional participation
In addition, Prof. Dr. Matthew Smith (Security and Networked Systems) uses his expertise in behavior-based IT security as PI at the Cluster of Excellence CASA (Cyber Security in the Age of Large-Scale Adversaries) at Ruhr University Bochum. The cluster aims to make the digital world a safer place by developing new approaches to defend against large-scale cyber threats. Prof. Smith contributes in particular to researching human behavior as a decisive factor for IT security and developing practical solutions.
Nationwide funding
The Clusters of Excellence are part of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space. The aim is to strengthen cutting-edge research at German universities and thus Germany as a science location in international competition. Since 2016, internationally competitive research fields at universities and university alliances have been supported on a project basis. From January 2026, a total of 70 clusters of excellence at 43 universities will be funded for the next seven years. A total of 539 million euros will be available annually for this purpose.