ORIGINS Cluster

What ORIGINS Cluster does

ORIGINS Cluster (legal name: Exzellenzcluster ORIGINS) is a publicly funded German research excellence cluster established in January 2019 under the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Excellence Strategy, grant EXC 2094 - 390783311. It is jointly operated by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) and Technische Universität München (TUM), with participation from five Max Planck Institutes (including MPA, MPE, MPP), the European Southern Observatory (ESO), and the Leibniz-Rechenzentrum (LRZ). The cluster is the successor to the Exzellenzcluster Universe (2006–2018) and is headquartered at Boltzmannstraße 2, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany.

Its core activity is interdisciplinary fundamental research spanning astrophysics, biophysics, particle physics, and geophysics, organized around five Research Units (RU-A Particles and Forces through RU-E Towards Molecular Life) and ten Connectors (CN-1 through CN-10) that link them across themes such as dark matter, antimatter, dust, accelerators, and emergence. The cluster operates shared research infrastructure including the Computational Centre for Particle and Astrophysics (C2PAP), the Ice Dust and Sequencing Lab (IDSL), the Munich Institute for Astro-, Particle- and BioPhysics (MIAPbP), the Origins Data Science Lab (ODSL), the Detector Hub (D-Hub), and the Centre of ORIGINS Research in Education (CORE). Approximately 14 administrative staff coordinate a broader community of 200+ affiliated researchers across the partner institutions.

ORIGINS is not a commercial entity: it has no products, no pricing, no paying customers, and no revenue in the traditional sense. Its sole funder is the DFG under Germany's Excellence Strategy, with a second funding period secured starting January 2026. Outputs take the form of peer-reviewed publications, scientific conferences, MIAPbP workshops, and public outreach programs (Café & Kosmos, Kosmisches Kino, school programs). Two affiliated principal investigators received ERC Advanced Grants in 2026, further validating the cluster's research standing but reinforcing its public-sector funding model.

Name

ORIGINS Cluster

Legal name

Exzellenzcluster ORIGINS

Website

https://origins-cluster.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ORIGINS Cluster is a publicly funded German research excellence cluster jointly operated by LMU Munich and TUM, investigating the development of the universe from the Big Bang to the origin of life across five Max Planck Institutes, ESO, and LRZ.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research Cluster

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

akta.pro primary industry

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)

Keywords

• Research excellence cluster
• Astrophysics research
• Particle physics research
• Biophysics research
• Interdisciplinary science consortium

Headquarters

HQ city

Garching

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany's Excellence Strategy - EXC 2094 - 390783311. The cluster received funding starting January 2019 and entered a second funding period starting January 2026.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ORIGINS Cluster is a publicly funded German research excellence cluster that conducts interdisciplinary fundamental research on the origin and evolution of the universe, from the Big Bang to the emergence of molecular life. It operates shared scientific infrastructure facilities (C2PAP, IDSL, MIAPbP, ODSL, D-Hub, CORE) and organizes scientific workshops, fellowships, and public outreach programs in collaboration with LMU Munich, TUM, Max Planck Institutes, ESO, and LRZ.

Product overview

ORIGINS Cluster is not a product company; it is an academic research excellence cluster. The cluster conducts interdisciplinary research into the development of the universe from the Big Bang to the origin of life, linking astrophysics, biophysics, particle physics, and geophysics. The cluster operates several research infrastructure facilities including C2PAP (Computational Centre for Particle and Astrophysics), IDSL (Ice Dust and Sequencing Lab), MIAPbP (Munich Institute for Astro-, Particle- and BioPhysics), ODSL (Origins Data Science Lab), D-Hub (Detector Hub), and CORE (Centre of ORIGINS Research in Education). It also organizes public outreach activities such as Café & Kosmos, Kosmisches Kino, and school programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MIAPbP (Munich Institute for Astro-, Particle- and BioPhysics)
• C2PAP (Computational Centre for Particle and Astrophysics)
• IDSL (Ice Dust and Sequencing Lab)
• ODSL (Origins Data Science Lab)
• D-Hub (Detector Hub)
• CORE (Centre of ORIGINS Research in Education)
• ORIGINS Fellows Program
• Seed Projects Program
• Café & Kosmos Public Outreach Program

Quantifiable outcome

• ERC Advanced Grants received by cluster researchers Komatsu (NewPhysCMB) and Suyu (LENS-ON-FIRE)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary institutional partner and co-host of the ORIGINS Excellence Cluster. LMU researchers serve as coordinators for multiple Research Units and Connectors, contributing expertise across astrophysics, biophysics, and theoretical physics.
• Technische Universität München (TUM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary institutional partner and co-host of the ORIGINS Excellence Cluster. TUM faculty lead several Research Units and contribute significant research infrastructure and personnel.
• Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (MPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey research partner contributing to cosmology, dark matter, and large-scale structure research. Hosts multiple cluster coordinators and ERC grant recipients.
• Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributing partner in galaxy formation, planet formation, and exoplanet research. Provides observational facilities and expertise in astrophysical instrumentation.
• Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in particle physics research including dark matter detection, neutrino physics, and collider experiments. Hosts detector development activities.
• European Southern Observatory (ESO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational astronomical observatory partner providing access to world-class telescopes and observational data. ESO staff serve as cluster coordinators and principal investigators.
• Leibniz-Rechenzentrum (LRZ)coreTechnology or IntegrationComputing infrastructure partner providing high-performance computing resources and data management capabilities essential for computational astrophysics and data analysis.
• Deutsches MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner contributing to public outreach and science communication, hosting exhibits and educational programs related to cosmic origins.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• European Southern Observatory (ESO): ESO is a core partner organization providing ORIGINS researchers access to world-class telescopes and observational data. It shares the astronomy and astrophysics research focus but operates at much larger international scale as an intergovernmental organization serving all European astronomers.
• Kavli Institute for Cosmology, Cambridge: The Kavli Institute for Cosmology at Cambridge conducts interdisciplinary research in cosmology and astrophysics, sharing ORIGINS's focus on understanding cosmic origins, large-scale structure, and the early universe with similar research methodologies and academic positioning.
• MCQST (Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology): MCQST is a Munich-based DFG Excellence Cluster focused on quantum science and technology, sharing the same Excellence Strategy funding model, multi-institutional structure, and Munich geographic footprint as ORIGINS, with overlapping physics research areas and similar governance mechanisms.
• Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics: Perimeter Institute is a leading independent research center in theoretical physics, conducting fundamental research in quantum theory, gravity, and cosmology. It shares ORIGINS's focus on understanding the fundamental nature of the universe with a similar model of cross-disciplinary theoretical investigation.

Emerging players

• Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton): IAS Princeton is a leading center for theoretical research in mathematics, natural sciences, and historical studies. It shares ORIGINS's model of fundamental research without commercial application and similar concentration of world-leading theorists, though operating at smaller scale with private rather than government funding.

Broad incumbents

• Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (MPA): MPA is one of ORIGINS's core institutional partners, focused on astrophysics, cosmology, and dark matter research. While broader in scope and longer established as a standalone institute, it shares substantial research overlap and personnel with ORIGINS, hosting multiple cluster coordinators and ERC grant recipients.
• CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research): CERN is the European intergovernmental particle physics laboratory where many ORIGINS-affiliated researchers collaborate. It offers overlapping capabilities in particle physics, astroparticle physics, and detector development, but operates at much larger international scale and broader scope across particle physics domains.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCA4L5pH4KN5bRilGMe6kfdQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/origins-cluster

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ORIGINS Cluster