Joint Energy Research

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the University of Sharjah (UOS) will cooperate in the future. Today, His Highness, Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al-Qassimi, Supreme President of the University of Sharjah, and KIT President Professor Eberhard Umbach signed a Memorandum of Understanding at KIT. Cooperation with the University of Sharjah will cover joint research projects to study urgent aspects of energy research, the focus being on renewable and sustainable energies.

The University of Sharjah is one of the major universities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Emirate of Sharjah has about one million inhabitants and is the third largest emirate of the UAE. His Highness, Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al-Qassimi, ruler of Sharjah, founded the UOS in 1997 with American universities being used as a model. Research activities focus among others on natural sciences, engineering sciences, medicine, and architecture. Despite the large petroleum resources in the Gulf region, the UOS concentrates also on renewable energies and on energy storage and distribution as well as on energy systems analysis. These topics are also pursued by the KIT Energy Center.

The Memorandum of Understanding between Karlsruhe and Sharjah covers joint research projects above all in the field of renewable energies, but also in the areas of energy conversion, energy storage, energy distribution, and efficient energy use. It is also agreed on exchanging scientists and students. As far as education is concerned, KIT and UOS will cooperate in the education of masters in the energy sector and offer Ph.D. programs.

Following the signing of the MoU, the ten members of the delegation from the United Arab Emirates will visit research facilities on KIT Campus North and Campus South. Among the facilities visited will be the bioliq® pilot plant – this process is applied to produce fully synthetic diesel or Otto fuel from straw and other agricultural and forestal residues – and a laboratory facility for ”Celitement“. “Celitement“ is a novel type of cement developed on KIT Campus North. Compared to conventional cements, production of “Celitement“ allows to save up to 50 % of energy, while emission of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide is halved. Other places visited will be the ANKA synchrotron radiation source on KIT Campus North and the laboratories of the Light Technology Institute and of the Institute for Thermal Turbomachines on KIT Campus South.

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is one of Europe’s leading energy research establishments: The KIT Energy Center pools fundamental research with applied research into all relevant energy sources for industry, households, services, and mobility. Holistic assessment of the energy cycle also covers conversion processes and energy efficiency. The KIT Energy Center links excellent competences in engineering and science with know-how in economics, the humanities, and social science as well as law. The activities of the KIT Energy Center are organized in seven topics: Energy conversion, renewable energies, energy storage and distribution, efficient energy use, fusion technology, nuclear power and safety, and energy systems analysis.


Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is a public corporation and state institution of Baden-Württemberg. It fulfills the mission of a university and the mission of a national research center of the Helmholtz Association. KIT focuses on a knowledge triangle that links the tasks of research, teaching, and innovation.