Bielefeld University conducts top-level research in four strategic research areas which share common methodological grounds via three cross-cutting topics. These areas are interdisciplinary by nature, each involving several faculties and central academic institutes. They are backed by a number of collaborative research projects at the highest international level as well as by individual third-party funded projects. Although the strategic research areas mainly focus on cutting-edge basic research, they also reach out into applications and society, true to Bielefeld University's motto of "Transcending Boundaries".