On February 20, 2025, more than 2,000 guests attended a ceremony honoring the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) for the impact of its research, teaching and innovation in the region and beyond. Leading representatives of the governments of Germany and Baden-Württemberg and top German and international business and academic figures lauded KIT, with its combination of university and large-scale research center, as a unique institution in Germany and an important research and educational establishment that boosts the attractiveness of Baden-Württemberg and Germany as academic centers. To stay ahead, KIT intends to further strengthen its focus on internationalization and partnerships.
View this album for photos of the event
The President of KIT, Professor Jan S. Hesthaven, noted that the world is changing and KIT would make strategic adjustments. “At KIT, we want to be even more open to students and researchers from abroad. That means doing more teaching in English. The future lies in partnerships, not competition. The aim of our research is to benefit society, and that means we also need to learn new ways of thinking.”
Cem Özdemir, Federal Minister of Education and Research, praised the institution’s central role as a driver of scientific excellence and technological innovation in Germany, saying: “200 years of KIT means 200 years as a place of the future, 200 years of innovation and excellence, 200 years of Karlsruhe as a role model for Germany and Europe. Two worlds come together here as its unique combination of university and large-scale research institute is a major reason why KIT is held in high regard in Europe and the rest of the world, and with it Baden-Württemberg and Germany. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to KIT for this fantastic milestone, and I want to thank all who have made KIT what it is today. KIT’s special status as a center of scientific research is your success, the reward for your hard work. The future is being shaped here at KIT. Keep it up! We need you more than ever.”
Indispensable for Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg’s Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann, patron of the anniversary year, said in his opening speech that KIT is essential to Baden-Württemberg’s place in science and industry. “The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology is one of the places in Baden-Württemberg where the future is already taking shape. As a University of Excellence, KIT is an important knowledge bearer and multiplier, and a driver of innovation in Baden-Württemberg and throughout Germany. This is where the biggest questions of our time are investigated, especially in energy, mobility and information – fields of great relevance to society. So it’s a special pleasure for me to take part in KIT’s 200th anniversary year as its patron, and I extend my warmest congratulations to it on this occasion.“
Baden-Württemberg’s Minister for Science, Research, and the Arts, Petra Olschowski, highlighted the importance of science to Germany’s future. “For two centuries, Karlsruhe has stood for excellence in research and teaching and for transferring innovations to society and industry. Groundbreaking discoveries and advances are associated with KIT and its predecessor institutions, such as the scientific foundations of mechanical engineering, Germany’s first information technology department, and the first email received in Germany. Then as now, the experts of tomorrow are educated in Karlsruhe, people whose knowledge and expertise, whose ideas and curiosity we urgently need in the future. In a nutshell, 200 years of KIT is something to celebrate and be proud of!”
The Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe, Dr. Frank Mentrup, expressed his appreciation of KIT as a valuable partner for the city and the region. “KIT represents Karlsruhe’s openness and its culture of welcome. It’s more than just the biggest employer in our region. With its students and researchers from more than 120 countries, it’s also a symbol of our region’s cosmopolitan outlook.”
“The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology is a beacon in the German scientific landscape and plays a leading role in shaping our future. In impressive fashion, it shows how the tight integration of university education and cutting-edge non-university research can unleash enormous synergies. And it’s remarkable to see how much talent KIT attracts from all over the world,“ said Professor Otmar D. Wiestler, President of the Helmholtz Association. “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association stands for innovation, technology transfer, and interdisciplinary cooperation – an important milestone in our research organization.”
Supervisory board member and KIT alumnus Stefan Quandt underscored KIT’s commitment to finding answers to humanity’s global challenges. “Energy security, digitalization, the future of mobility, and limiting and managing the impact of climate change are fields where KIT conducts cutting-edge research and lays the foundations for innovation. That will continue to be our commitment in the future.”
Opening words from KIT’s students were spoken by Gregor Ulbricht, vice-chair of the General Students Committee.
Guests from Germany and abroad learned about KIT’s history and successes during a program lasting over two hours. Live talks, panel discussions and short films provided insights into the past and future, but current issues were also discussed.
For example, one of the panel discussions highlighted the importance of alumni. Successful KIT graduates (Dr. Amel Karboul, founder and CEO of the Education Outcomes Fund; Professor Dieter Leonhard, President of the Saarland University of Applied Sciences; Dr. Joachim Nagel, President of the Bundesbank; and Dr. Efstratia Zafeirou, senior manager at AUDI AG) outlined career paths enabled by KIT in a wide range of fields. They reported that KIT graduates are in high demand among employers. President Hesthaven also expressed confidence that alumni make perfect ambassadors for their former educational institutions. He said it was a wonderful way to give something back to their alma mater.
The KIT Big Band provided the musical backdrop for the event, which was hosted by Linda Zervakis, a moderator for the German broadcaster ARD.
More information:
To mark the anniversary, KIT has produced a commemorative publication, “The First 200 Years” (in German)
Anniversary film “KIT. Place of the Future. Since 1825“ (youtube)
Video “THE KIT STORY” (youtube)
Being “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
KIT Festakt 200 Jahre