The CLICCS case study reports on the experience of managing the multidisciplinary Climate, Climatic Change and Society Excellence Cluster, which was launched in 2019 with German Research Council (DFG) funding for an initial period of seven years. CLICCS is hosted at the Universität Hamburg and led by three principal investigators from different disciplines. It brings together researchers from universities and affiliated science institutions within a German city-state. About 230 researchers are grouped in three thematic research units, each composed of various subsections: A Sensitivity and variability in the climate system; B Climate-related dynamics of social systems; C Sustainable adaption scenarios. The author of the case study co-chairs section B2 and co-leads chapters of the cross-cutting Hamburg climate futures outlook project. The case study describes the research aims, objectives and organisation of the CLICCS programme, focussing on the research accomplished during the first two years of funding; and reporting on key insights and lessons learnt.