The network of excellence is dedicated to overcoming major societal challenges - Grand Challenges - across institutional and disciplinary boundaries. Sustainable solutions are developed in cooperation with various actors in the Berlin ecosystem.

Management Unit 1 drives the development of a network-wide agenda for joint research and the scientific shaping of the integrated Berlin Research Area by initiating projects and networks within the framework of Grand Challenge initiatives.

Two funding lines support the anchoring of Grand Challenges initiatives in the integrated Berlin Research Area: "Exploration Projects" (see Exploration Projects Social Cohesion & Global Health) for the development of novel topics, projects and networks, and "Einstein Research Units" (see Quantum & CliWaC) for large-scale cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary research projects.