Cluster of Excellence decision: Success for Hearing4all

23.05.2025

The joint cutting-edge research conducted by the University of Oldenburg, Hannover Medical School, and Leibniz University Hannover continues its success story: On May 22, 2025, it was announced that the Hearing4all Cluster of Excellence will receive funding for another seven years as part of the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments. Under the title ‘Hearing4all.connects’, the interdisciplinary research alliance is entering its third funding phase in 2026.

“Over the past 13 years, the three participating universities and external partners have built a unique ecosystem for hearing research. This now enables us to apply new technologies – in areas such as genetics or AI – to achieve hearing restoration that comes as close as possible to natural hearing and empowers those affected to fully participate in diverse communication settings. Together with our outstanding team, I’m excited to initiate a new era of hearing health research, one that addresses hearing holistically: from ear, to brain, to society.”, said Prof. Dr. Christiane Thiel, designated spokesperson for the Cluster of Excellence ‘Hearing4all.connects’, University of Oldenburg.

Watch the new Hearing4all.connects video

Press releases by University of Oldenburg, Hannover Medical School and Leibniz University Hannover

Joint press release by DFG and WR incl. a complete list and map of Germany showing the clusters receiving funding

  • Group photo 1: UOL President Prof. Dr. Ralph Bruder with the spokespersons of the UOL clusters – Hearing4all: Prof. Dr. Christiane Thiel (2nd from left). Photo: University of Oldenburg / Markus Hibbeler
  • Group photo 2: MHH President Prof. Dr. Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner with the spokespersons of the MHH clusters – Hearing4all: Prof. Dr. Andrej Kral (right). Photo: Karin Kaiser / Hannover Medical School
  • Group photo 3: LUH President Prof. Dr. Volker Epping with the spokespersons of the LUH clusters – Hearing4all: Prof. Dr. Holger Blume (right). Photo: Leibniz University Hannover / Sören Pinsdorf
  • Title photo: Anechoic chamber (acoustics laboratory) at the University of Oldenburg. Photo: University of Oldenburg / Daniel Schmidt