Karlsruhe Institute of Technology will establish an own foundation to optimally support research, education, and academic life at KIT. The KIT Foundation will start with a capital of about EUR 1.3 million donated by the founding donors and sponsors. The Foundation shall bundle the commitments of donating enterprises, patrons, and alumni. Journalists are cordially invited to come to the foundation ceremony on Thursday, July 12, 18.00 hrs, at the entrance hall of the Audimax (kindly register using the form enclosed).
The KIT Foundation shall support excellent research. Apart from the establishment of endowed chairs and the support of construction projects, the focus will lie on extensive support of young scientists. The Foundation will support among others projects for an early independence of young scientists, within the framework of which the latter will use results from their master, diploma, or PhD theses. Moreover, funds provided by the Foundation will be used to explore new fields of science.
The KIT Foundation will also support education at KIT: It will grant fellowships to students in special situations of life and will be responsible for all activities associated with KIT granting the Deutschlandstipendium (Germany scholarship). This scholarship funded with federal participation is granted to students with excellent achievements and high social commitment. As regards academic life, the Foundation intends to improve studies conditions of students with children by funding infrastructure and care facilities. Other projects cover the support of the Study Center for Visually Impaired Students or activities of the KIT orchestra.
“After the merger, KIT has developed to an internationally known scientific institution within a period of two years. With a budget of about EUR 800 million, 9200 employees, and more than 22,000 students, it already is one of the most powerful research and education institutions in Europe,” emphasizes KIT President Professor Eberhard Umbach. “We are very happy that the founding donors from industry, medium-sized enterprises, and private persons as well as alumni support us and hope that many other donors will accompany KIT on its way in the future.”
Alumnus Stefan Quandt, the Mayor of the City Karlsruhe, Wolfram Jäger, and Dr. Rolf Leonhard, Robert Bosch GmbH, will speak at the foundation ceremony on July 12.
Program of the Foundation Ceremony:
18.00 hrs Musical Opening
Collegium Musicum
18.05 hrs Welcome and Presentation of the Foundation
Prof. Eberhard Umbach, President of KIT
18.20 hrs Welcome Address
Mayor Wolfram Jäger, City of Karlsruhe
18.25 hrs Music
18.30 hrs Signing of the Agreement on the KIT Foundation
All founding donors present, photo
18.50 hrs Speech
Stefan Quandt
19.00 hrs Speech
Dr. Rolf Leonhard, Robert Bosch GmbH
19.10 hrs Musical Conclusion of the Program
Reception
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.