This means that the interdisciplinary research network, which is led by the Technical University of Darmstadt and includes the University of Kassel and the Philipps University of Marburg, can continue its scientific work in phase 2. Since 2020, the centre has been researching resilient information and communication technology to better protect cities from disasters. emergenCITY has already received around 22 million euros from the LOEWE funding programme.

‘We are delighted that our research performance and our concepts for the future have been recognised and would like to thank the Ministry for the appreciation shown for our work,’ said Matthias Hollick, Scientific Coordinator of emergenCITY. ‘This is a clear signal from the Ministry of Science.’

The funds for the years 2025 and 2026 were only approved with reservations a year ago, as the LOEWE Centre was to further develop a continuation concept that had already been presented for the period after the end of LOEWE funding. emergenCITY submitted this in the autumn of the year. Among other things, it provides for the application of a DFG-funded collaborative research centre on the resilience of autonomous mobile robots, a research training group on networked critical infrastructures and the establishment of an innovation and transfer centre.

Science Minister Timon Gremmels emphasised: ‘emergenCITY clearly demonstrates the important role our universities and non-university research institutions play in overcoming the challenges of our time. By providing further funding, we are strengthening Hessen's leading position in this highly topical subject of digital emergency communication.’