The programme "ProFiL. Professionalisation of Women in Research and Teaching: Mentoring – Training – Networking" for female researchers pursuing a professorship is successfully run by Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Technische Universität Berlin since 2004. The three universities have thus committed themselves to the promotion of young researchers with regard to both excellence and gender equality. The programme's significance was further acknowledged when the three cooperating universities, together with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, won recognition as a consortium with their proposal for the Excellence Strategy competition. As part of the Berlin University Alliance, ProFiL can now substantially expand the number of programme participants and can offer an English programme line.