Honorary Senators

Manfred Bähr
The then Universität Karlsruhe granted the honorary senatorship to Manfred Bähr in 2006. Bähr is managing director of Vollack Beteiligungen GmbH & Co. KG.

Peter Biró
Professor Dr. Peter Biró was appointed honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1961. Biró is retired professor of the Department of Geodesy of TU Budapest/Hungary, Müegyetem rkp.

Hans-Werner Hector
The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary doctorate to Hans-Werner Hector in 2003 for his merits in the promotion of highly talented pupils by the Hector seminars initiated by him. In March 2008, he established the Hector Science Fund in the amount of 200 million Euros. These assets are to result in five million Euros for KIT annually. In 2007, he was appointed honorary senator by KIT.

Martin Herrenknecht
KIT conferred the honorary senatorship to Dr. Martin Herrenknecht, CEO of Herrenknecht AG, in 2011. The holder of the Federal Cross of Merit, First Class, sponsors civil engineering at KIT. Since 2008, Herrenknecht AG has been funding the endowed professorship for technical petrophysics in the sector of geothermal energies for a duration of five years.

Michael Huber
KIT awarded Michael Huber, Chief Executive Officer of Sparkasse Karlsruhe and honorary citizen of KIT, 2021 the honorary senatorship. Among other things, he made an outstanding contribution to the merger of the two sponsoring associations to form "KIT Freundeskreis und Fördergesellschaft e. V." and is its chairman. In addition, Huber is dedicated to promoting young scientists at KIT. The Sparkassen foundation  "GUTES TUN" (Doing Good), of which he is Chairman of the Foundation Board, annually awards the Sparkasse Award for environmental research at KIT. Michael Huber has also been a committed member of the KIT Foundation's Board of Trustees since 2021 as a representative of Sparkasse Karlsruhe.

Detlef W. Hübner
KIT appointed Detlef W. Hübner an honorary senator in 2007. He is the founder of the Detlef W. Hübner Foundation.

Edgar Kipper
The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Edgar Kipper in 2002. Kipper is retired CEO of Volksbank Karlsruhe eG.

Wolfgang Kottmann
Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Kottmann was member of the board of directors of Thyssen Gas GmbH. In 1994, the then Universität Karlsruhe appointed him an honorary senator.

Egon Kremer
Dr. oec. publ. Egon Kremer is honorary professor of KIT. In 1980, he became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe.

Horst Marschall
The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Horst Marschall in 2002. Marschall is CEO of the Baden-Württembergische Bank AG.

Peter Scherer
Dipl.-Ing. Peter Scherer became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1994.

Helwig Schmied
Prof. Dr. Dr. Helwig Schmied is professor at the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Physique de Strasbourg. The then Universität Karlsruhe appointed him an honorary senator in 1996.

Ingrid Schroff
In 1984, Gunther and Ingrid Schroff established the Schroff Foundations from their private assets. Their objective: Investing the profits of Schroff GmbH in scientific and social institutions. After the death of Gunther Schroff, who was honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe, Ingrid Schroff continued his work. In 2001, the then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to her. The foundation funds the construction of students’ residences, endowed professorships, international exchange of know-how, and prizes and scholarships.

Christian Teichmann
Dr. jur. Christian Teichmann was deputy chief executive officer of the ÖVA-Versicherungen. In 1991, he became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe.

Joachim Vielmetter
In 1956, the then Technical University of Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Joachim Vielmetter. Vielmetter was director and manager of the Deutsch-Afrikanische Handelsgesellschaft mbH and managing director of Fa. Martellus Gesellschaft für industrielle Zusammenarbeit mbH u. Co.KG.

Hartmut Weule
Professor Dr. Hartmut Weule, former member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, was appointed honorary senator in 2016 for his outstanding services in establishing the International Department of KIT.

Reinhold Würth
Entrepreneur Reinhold Würth has been honorary senator of KIT since 2015. The Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Würth Group’s Family Trusts was conferred this honor, because his vast entrepreneurial know-how contributed to establishing a student startup culture at KIT. From 1999 to 2003, Würth was professor heading the Interfaculty Institute for Entrepreneurship of the then Universität Karlsruhe (TH).

Lothaire Ziliox
Professor Dr. Lothaire Ziliox became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 2002. Ziliox is professor at the Institut Franco-Allemand de Recherche sur L’Environment, ULP Strasbourg.

Hans Georg Appenzeller
In 1994, the honorary senatorship was conferred to Georg Appenzeller by the then Universität Karlsruhe.

Werner Bansen
The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Dr.-Ing. Dr.-Ing. h.c. Werner Bansen in 1968.

Hermann Becker
Dipl.-Ing. Hermann Becker is honorary professor at KIT. The then Universität Karlsruhe appointed the chief executive officer of Philipp Holzmann AG an honorary senator in 1978.

Georg Bleisteiner
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Dr.-Ing. E.h. Georg Bleisteiner in 1956.

Heinz Blessmann
Dipl.-Ing. Heinz Blessmann was managing director of the Deutsche Solvay-Werke GmbH and member of the board of Kali-Chemie AG. In 1990, the then Universität Karlsruhe granted the honorary senatorship to him.

Rainer Blickle
Rainer Blickle was shareholder of the SEW-Eurodrive GmbH & Co. KG and and CEO of the SEW-Eurodrive foundation. In 2018, the KIT granted the honorary senatorship to Blickle.

Walter A. Bösenberg
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Professor Walter A. Bösenberg an honorary senator in 1965.

Waldemar Braun
Waldemar Braun was conferred the honorary senatorship by the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1950.

Herbert Bretschneider
Herbert Bretschneider was appointed honorary senator by the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1950.

Alfons Brill
Alfons Brill became honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1950.

Heinz Bubel
Dipl.-Ing. Heinz Bubel was president of the Karlsruhe Railway Division. He was appointed honorary senator by the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1986.

Franz Burda
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Dr. Franz Burda honorary senator in 1950.

Heinrich Canzler
Dr.-Ing. E.h. Heinrich Canzler was appointed honorary senator by the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1951.

Jean Capelle
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Professor Dr. Jean Capelle in 1962.

Kurt A. Dambach
The then Universität Karlsruhe appointed Professor E.h. Kurt A. Dambach an honorary senator in 1972.

Karl Danzer
In 1966, Karl Danzer became honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe.

Ernst Deck
The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Dipl.-Ing. Ernst Deck in 1969.

Theo Deglmann
Dr.med. Theo Deglmann was appointed honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1960.

Joseph Dorer
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Joseph Dorer an honorary senator in 1951.

Richard Eugen Dörr
Dr.-Ing. E.h. Richard Eugen Dörr became honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1952.

Otto Dullenkopf
The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Otto Dullenkopf in 1975.

Wolfgang Eichelberger
In 2017, Dr. Wolfgang Eichelberger received the honorary senator status of the KIT. In this way, the KIT honored the founder of the "Erika und Dr. Wolfgang Eichelberger Foundation" for his great achievements in promoting the students and young scientists of the KIT faculties of physics and computer science.

Emil Eisele
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Dr.jur. Emil Eisele an honorary senator in 1950.

Adolf Elsaesser
Adolf Elsaesser became honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1950.

Rudolf Fettweis
Dr.-Ing. E.h. Rudolf Fettweis was conferred the honorary senatorship by the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1947.

Heinrich Freiberger
Dr.-Ing. Heinrich Freiberger became honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1962.

Hans-Jürgen Ganß
The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Dr. Hans-Jürgen Ganß in 1975.

Karl Gebhardt
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Karl Gebhardt an honorary senator in 1952.

Rolf von Gierke
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Rolf von Gierke an honorary senator in 1950.

Janos Ginsztler
Professor Dr. Janos Ginsztler became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1995. He is professor at the Technical University of Budapest, Müegyetem Rakpart 3.K.II.73.

Fritz-Aurel Goergen
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Dr.rer.pol. h.c. Fritz-Aurel Goergen an honorary senator in 1955.

Werner Goldschmit
Dipl.-Ing. Werner Goldschmit became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1975.

Rudolf Greifeld
Dr. Rudolf Greifeld was awarded the honorary senatorship of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1969. According to the current state of knowledge and on the basis of ethical evaluations, the honorary senatorship would no longer be conferred to him. More information in German.

Clemens Grimm
Dipl.-Ing. Clemens Grimm is free architect, BDA. The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to him in 1983.

Max Grundig
The then Universität Karlsruhe appointed Dr. h.c. Max Grundig an honorary senator in 1987.

Nicolas Adolf Halbertsma
Dr.-Ing. Nicolas Adolf Halbertsma became honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1952.

Hans Leonhard Hammerbacher
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Dr. Hans Leonhard Hammerbacher an honorary senator in 1950.

Hans-Wolfgang Heidland
The then Universität Karlsruhe appointed Professor Dr. Hans-Wolfgang Heidland an honorary senator in 1975.

Dieter Heilmann
Dr. rer. pol. Dieter Heilmann became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1975.

Bruno Heusinger
Dr.phil. Dr.jur. h.c. Bruno Heusinger became honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1966.

Udo Hoesch
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Udo Hoesch in 1950.

Willy Höfler
Dr.-Ing. Willy Höfler became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1989.

Walter Hohner
The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary doctorate to Dipl.-Ing. Walter Hohner in 1975.

Wilhelm Homann
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Wilhelm Homann an honorary senator in 1950.

Franz Eugen Huber
Franz Eugen Huber became honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1950.

Arnold Huggenberger
Dr.sc.techn. Arnold Huggenberger became honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1953.

Jakob Hupperich
Jakob Hupperich was conferred the honorary senatorship by the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1992. Hupperich was chief executive officer of Sparkasse Karlsruhe.

Paul Imbs
The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary doctorate to Dr. Paul Imbs in 1968.

Wilhelm von Ilsemann
Dr. Wilhelm von Ilsemann became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe (TH) in 1992. Von Ilsemann was chief executive officer of Shell Germany.

Heinrich Jaeger
The then Universität Karlsruhe appointed Heinrich Jaeger an honorary senator in 1983. Jaeger was CEO of Sparkasse Karlsruhe.

Heinrich Jakopp
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.Ing. E.h. Dr. techn. h.c. Heinrich Jakopp became honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1950.

Jochen Kienzle
Dipl. Volkswirt Jochen Kienzle was conferred the honorary doctorate by the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1975.

Horst Kleiner
The then Universität Karlsruhe appointed Horst Kleiner an honorary senator in 2000.

Paul Kleinewefers
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Dipl.-Ing. Paul Kleinewefers in 1950.

Otto Koehn
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Dr.-Ing. Otto Koehn an honorary senator in 1950.

Hellmut Kohler
Dr.-Ing. Hellmut Kohler became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1971.

Karl Kölmel
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Karl Kölmel in 1950.

Günther Kopf
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Dipl.-Ing. Günther Kopf an honorary senator in 1956.

Kurt Kraft
Dr. phil. Kurt Kraft became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1967.

Siegfried Kühn
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Dr. Dr. med. h.c. Siegfried Kühn an honorary senator in 1948.

Gerhard Lehmann
The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Gerhard Lehmann in 1977.

Robert Ley
Dr. Robert Ley was appointed honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1939. The protocol of the transitional senate of the Technical University of December 07, 1945 names Ley among the persons whose honors "are to be reversed".  There are no records of further handling of this matter. Ley had killed himself as a defendant in the Nuremberg war crimes trials before the opening of the actual proceedings on October 25, 1945. This may have been a reason not to pursue the withdrawal.

Hans Liebherr
The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Dr.-Ing. E.h. Hans Liebherr in 1974.

Adolf Lohse
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Dr. Adolf Lohse an honorary senator in 1950.

Arved Lompe
Dr. phil. Arved Lompe became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1970.

Walter Ludewig
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Professor Dr.-Ing. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Walter Ludewig in 1963.

Adolf Messer
Dr. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Adolf Messer became honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1950.

Alfred Robert Meyer
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Alfred Robert Meyer an honorary senator in 1952.

Pal Michelberger
Professor Dr. Pal Michelberger is professor of the Technical University of Budapest, Müegyetem Rakpart 3.K.II.73. In 1995, he was appointed honorary senator by the then Universität Karlsruhe.

Alex Möller
Professor Dr.-Ing. E.h. Dr. h.c. Alex Möller became honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1950.

Robert Müller-Wirth
Dr. jur. Robert Müller-Wirth became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1968.

Karl Neuenhofer
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Dr.-Ing. Karl Neuenhofer an honorary senator in 1952.

Heinz Nixdorf
The then Unversität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Heinz Nixdorf in 1981.

Imre Perenyi
Dr. Dipl.-Ing. s.c. Dr. habil. dres. h.c. Imre Perenyi became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1980.

Hans Peters
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Hans Peters an honorary senator in 1950.

Erich Pfisterer
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Dr. rer.pol. Dr.-Ing. h.c. Erich Pfisterer an honorary senator in 1961.

Adolf Pirrung
Dr.-Ing. E.h. Adolf Pirrung became honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1951.

Károly Polinszky
The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Dr. Károly Polinszky in 1985.

Hans Ramm
The then Universität Karlsruhe appointed Hans Ramm an honorary senator in 1973.

Wendelin Rauch
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Dr. theol. et phil. Wendelin Rauch in 1949.

Hugo Rhein
In 1976, Dr. rer.pol. Hugo Rhein became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe. Rhein was chief executive officer of Badenwerk AG. In 2002, he established a foundation for accommodations of students in Karlsruhe.

Jacques Robin
The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Dr. Jacques Robin in 1985. Robin is directeur honoraire at the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées in Lyon-Villeurbanne.

Mirko Ros
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Dr.-Ing. h.c. Mirko Ros an honorary senator in 1950.

Robert Sänger
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Robert Sänger an honorary senator in 1952.

Hans Ulrich Schäfer
The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Dr. jur. Hans Ulrich Schäfer in 1973.

Hans Scherenberg
Dr.-Ing. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Hans Scherenberg became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1969.

Walter Schlienz
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Dr. rer.nat. Walter Schlienz in 1947.

Franz Schnabel
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Franz Schnabel in 1949.

Gunther Schroff
The then Universität Karlsruhe appointed Gunther Schroff an honorary senator in 1989.

Hermann Schuon
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Dr. Hermann Schuon an honorary senator in 1950.

Karl Schüssler
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Karl Schüssler in 1950.

Ludolf Schwenkow
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Dr. jur. Ludolf Schwenkow an honorary senator in 1950.

Robert Schwebler
Professor Dr. rer.oec. Dr. h.c Robert Schwebler became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1977. For a long time, Schwebler was chief executive officer of the Karlsruhe Lebensversicherung AG and chairman of the supervisory boards of Karlsruhe Versicherung AG and Karlsruhe Hinterbliebenenkasse AG. He also worked as professor at KIT.

Rudolf Seitz
Professor Dr.med. Rudolf Seitz became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1977.

Ernst von Siemens
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Dr.-Ing. E.h. Ernst von Siemens an honorary senator in 1950.

Lothar F.W. Sparberg
In 1984, the then Universität Karlsruhe appointed Professor Lothar F.W. Sparberg an honorary senator. Sparberg was member of the supervisory board of IBM Deutschland GmbH.

Rudolf Sperner
The then Universität Karlsruhe appointed Rudolf Sperner an honorary senator in 1977.

Albert F. Spitta
Albert F. Spitta became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1972.

Walter Staiger
Walter Staiger became honorary senator of the then Universität Karlsruhe in 1968.

Hans Strauß
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Dr. jur. Hans Strauß in 1954.

Eugen Thoma
Dr. Eugen Thoma became honorary senator of the then Technical University of Karlsruhe in 1948.

Friedrich Töpper
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Friedrich Töpper an honorary senator in 1948.

Alfred Tröblinger
The then Universität Karlsruhe appointed Professor Dr. Alfred Tröblinger an honorary senator in 1976.

Klaus Tschira
Klaus Tschira is one of the founders of SAP AG, who is closely related to KIT. From 1966 to 1972, he studied physics at the Fridericiana. Since 1999, he has been honorary senator of the university. To promote natural sciences, mathematics, and informatics, he established a foundation in 1995, which also advocates public appreciation of these subjects.

Friedrich Uhde
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Friedrich Uhde in 1951.

Erwin Umhauer
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Erwin Umhauer an honorary senator in 1950.

Walter Urbach
The then Universität Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Dr. rer.nat. Walter Urbach in 1993. Urbach was director of Siemens AG.

Karl-Ernst Vaillant
The then Universität Karlsruhe appointed Dipl.-Ing. Karl-Ernst Vaillant an honorary senator in 1994.

Helmut Winkler
The then Technical University of Karlsruhe appointed Dr. Helmut Winkler an honorary senator in 1950.

Carl Wurster
The then Technical Unversity of Karlsruhe conferred the honorary senatorship to Professor Dr.-Ing. Dr. rer.nat. h.c. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Carl Wurster in 1958.