UNIVERSITAT TRIER

Their core work

Universität Trier is a German university with two distinctive research strengths: computational neuroscience (as a long-standing partner in the Human Brain Project) and digital humanities, particularly classical studies of the Roman Empire and literary culture. Their neuroscience work focuses on brain simulation, neuroinformatics, and neuromorphic computing at the interface of biology and high-performance computing. In parallel, they have built significant expertise in computational linguistics, lexicography, and digital analysis of historical texts and inscriptions, recently securing major ERC grants for original humanities research.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2016–2018), Trier's profile was anchored in computational neuroscience through the Human Brain Project, with side contributions to space instrumentation (NEWTON) and pure mathematics (CID). From 2019 onward, a major shift occurred: while HBP participation continued, the university won two large ERC grants (PAPA, STRADA) in digital humanities and classical studies, and expanded into research infrastructure for linguistics and literary studies. The humanities pivot is striking — their most recent and best-funded coordinated projects are all in historical and cultural research, not in natural sciences.

Trier is rapidly growing its digital humanities portfolio with ERC-level funding, positioning itself as a leading center for computational approaches to historical and literary research.

How they like to work

Trier predominantly operates as a contributing partner (16 of 20 projects), but when it leads, it leads ambitiously — its four coordinated projects include two ERC Consolidator/Advanced grants worth nearly EUR 2M each. With 284 unique partners across 37 countries, this is a university that connects broadly rather than working with a tight circle. Expect a reliable consortium partner that brings strong analytical capabilities, particularly in areas where quantitative methods meet humanities or social sciences.

With 284 unique consortium partners across 37 countries, Trier has one of the broadest collaboration networks for a mid-sized German university. Much of this reach comes from large-scale projects like the Human Brain Project and Diverfarming, giving them connections spanning from Nordic neuroscience labs to Mediterranean agricultural institutes.

What sets them apart

What makes Trier unusual is the combination of hard computational skills (brain simulation, HPC, neuroinformatics) with deep humanities expertise (Roman history, classical philology, literary studies). Very few universities can credibly contribute to both a neuromorphic computing project and a study of Latin inscriptions across the Roman Empire. For consortium builders, this makes them an ideal partner when a project needs rigorous digital or quantitative methods applied to cultural, historical, or social research questions.

Highlights from their portfolio

• STRADA
  ERC-funded (EUR 1.9M), Trier-coordinated project simulating ancient transport networks across the Roman Empire — a rare and ambitious fusion of computational modeling and classical history.
• HBP SGA3
  Third phase of the flagship Human Brain Project (EUR 848K to Trier), demonstrating sustained commitment to Europe's largest neuroscience initiative over nearly a decade.
• PAPA
  ERC Consolidator Grant (EUR 1.9M) led by Trier on political pamphlets and court patronage in pre-Revolutionary France — their largest single award and a marker of research excellence in humanities.