University of Excellence

Establishment of the “KIT Future Fields” and “KIT Centers - Matching Funds” funding lines

Under the KIT Future Fields initiative, 119 highly innovative and high-risk projects in future-oriented, pioneering topics were funded. Additionally, the KIT Centers – Matching Funds program, which creates opportunities for testing and developing research and structural projects within the KIT Centers, supported 31 projects.

Both funding lines have significantly facilitated the establishment of the Collaborative Research Centers “Consistency in the View-Based Development of Cyber-Physical Systems” and “A Circular Factory for the Perpetual Product”. In total, seven additional CRC initiatives, three Research Training Groups (GRKs), five research groups, and several ERC grants are currently in preparation, to which the KIT Future Fields have contributed substantially in many cases. Especially in identifying and strengthening strategically important research areas at KIT, both funding lines have proven to be particularly effective.

Successful recruitments under the Otto Lehmann Program

Through the Otto Lehmann Professorship, KIT attracts international researchers at the forefront of their discipline to Karlsruhe. So far, this recruitment initiative has brought in five exceptional top researchers:

• Prof. Dr. Markus Klute, Experimetal Particle Physics (2021),
• Prof. Dr. André Platzer, Logic of Autonomous Dynamical Systems (2022),
• Prof. Raffaela Mirandola, Self-Adaptive Software Intensive Systems (2023),
• Prof. Dr. Marcel Utz, Microsystems Technology (2023)
• Prof. Dr. Christopher Barner-Kowollik, Polymer-Based Systems (2026)

Prof. Dr. Markus Klute, Prof. Dr. André Platzer, and Prof. Dr. Barner-Kowollik were also awarded the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship, Germany’s most prestigious international research award, which comes with up to five million euros. This award, given by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, honors world-leading researchers from all disciplines who have previously worked abroad

Digitalization of research processes in research data management (RDM)

Funding has been provided for eleven internal RDM activities. The RDM of these coordinated large-scale research projects is established as a best practice example and is being transferred to other disciplinary communities as a blueprint. This particularly involves the use of electronic lab notebooks, integration with repositories, and the interaction between centralized and decentralized services.

Establishment of two new real-world labs for transdisciplinary and transformative research at the interface with society

Real-world labs bridge the gap between science and society, allowing citizens to contribute their ideas and help shape solutions to important future issues. With its real world labs, KIT is breaking new ground in transdisciplinary research and testing of new technologies for current transformations. As part of the University of Excellence, KIT has added two new real-world labs to its existing research. The focus when appointing professorships was on the transdisciplinary link between the humanities and social sciences with technology and natural sciences (appointment of professorship tandems – KIT Real-World Lab Professorships).

Real-World Lab “Autonomous Driving” in the Mobility System of the Future
This lab aims to develop and test socio-technical solutions to promote a sustainable, fair, accessible, and resilient mobility system of the future, focusing on the role of autonomous and cooperative driving in such a system.

Real-World Lab “Accessibility”
This lab involves people with disabilities in developing research ideas and prototypes. It closely collaborates with the Center for Digital Accessibility and Assistive Technology ACCESS@KIT, which supports students with disabilities at KIT, including around 30 students with blindness or visual impairments.

Establishment of a university-wide tenure track system

KIT has established 33 junior and tenure track professorships. This alternative, equivalent career path to a W3 professorship is part of the cultural shift towards providing long-term career prospects for young scientists.

Funding of sixteen project-based teaching activities at KIT’s research infrastructures

As part of the “Research Infrastructures in Research-Oriented Teaching (RI-RO Teaching)” measure, KIT is integrating its large research infrastructures more deeply into teaching. This approach fosters early interaction between researchers at these facilities and the next generation of scientists. Funding supports courses and internships that provide students with practical skills at large-scale research facilities. The activities are incorporated into the curricula of the participating study programs.

Support program for top international researchers at the postdoc level

The Young Investigator Group Preparation Program (YIG Prep Pro) recruits outstanding international postdocs aiming to establish a junior research group at KIT. Over a two-year period, fellows receive mentoring, application advice, workshops, and networking opportunities to help secure the third-party funded junior research group. The program also includes comprehensive training and career development. To date, twenty fellows have been appointed to professorships. Other fellows have received numerous awards and scholarships, lead their own junior research groups, or have taken on senior positions in industry.

Qualification of doctoral researchers in disciplinary and professional skills

Six new KIT Graduate Schools have been established, each with corresponding qualification programs. The Karlsruhe House of Young Scientists offers a wide range of further training opportunities for doctoral researchers:

Networking and support for junior staff in leadership positions

The Young Investigator Network (YIN) has expanded its networking opportunities and representation of interests for junior staff in leadership roles.

Significant increase in the proportion of female professors

The proportion of female professors at KIT has risen from 14% to over 19% since 2019.

Significant increase in professorships and junior professorships

KIT aims to establish 100 new professorships within ten years (2019-2029) to enhance the performance and agility of its top-level research. We have tripled the number of junior professorships compared to 2019. This contributes to a significant rejuvenation of the professorial staff. The Otto Lehmann Professorships, KIT Real-World Lab Professorships, and KIT Excellent Tenure are part of this initiative.

Appointment budget to recruit excellent female scientists

An additional budget has been allocated for recruiting female professors, allowing for tailored responses to their equipment-related needs. So far, all 17 female candidates offered funds from this budget have accepted positions at KIT.

Consciously dealing with gender-sensitive issues

Funding has been provided for 14 internal equal opportunities projects from science and administration over two years. The results, findings, and experiences are being consolidated to strengthen equal opportunities and equity within the organizational structure