The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) was highly successful in Baden-Württemberg's current round of competition for funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). KIT obtained a total of EUR 5.855 million for three projects as an applicant and for another as a partner. The funds will be used for a targeted expansion of modern research infrastructure in strategic future fields.
As announced by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts on On February 18, 2026, Baden-Württemberthe state g's Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts announced that it will provide ERDF funding for new research platforms at state universities s totaling EUR 12.6 million to research platforms at state universities. A substantial portion of the funding, over EUR 5.8 million, will go to KIT.
"Turning scientific insights into specific solutions requires modern research infrastructures," saysid Professor Anke-Susanne Müller, Vice Provost Research Infrastructures at KIT. "As The University in the Helmholtz Association, we unite basic research and applications. The ERDF supports us exactly where our excellence can lead to social and technological benefits."
Overview of Funded Summary of Supported Projects
At the Future Mobility Innovation Campus, KIT and the University of Stuttgart are setting up ModuLaF (Modular AI-assisted Laser technology platform for autonomous, flexible, and resilient Fabrication), a scalable laser technology platform. The modular systems at the two locations are networked to form a complete system in which integrated, self-optimizing sensors, and AI algorithms control additive, joining and separating processes. "We're setting up a unique research platform for autonomous laser material processing. Networking across locations with AI-assisted process intelligence enables resilient, flexible production systems and boosts the technological competitiveness of Baden Württemberg and Europe," saysid Professor Frederik Zanger from the wbk Institute of Production Science at KIT.
At the Sustainability Innovation Campus, the 4SURE (Smart Sensor System for Sustainable Urban Regions) project is setting up a dense network of measuring stations for climate resilience and transformation research. In Karlsruhe, Freiburg, and other municipalities in Baden-Württemberg, high-precision sensors will gather real-time data on extreme weather events such as heat, aridity, and heavy rainfall and their impact on humans, trees, and infrastructure. "In the 4SURE project, we're working with the University of Freiburg to establish a basic data set for fair and sustainable urban development," said Professor Jan Cermak from KIT's Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research - Atmospheric Trace Gases and Remote Sensing says.
The Center for Electrochemical Energy Storage Ulm & Karlsruhe (CELEST) is home to another project receiving funding: CERL (Circular Economy Recycling Lab), which will develop infrastructure for research on closed material cycles for battery technology. The project's aim is to develop innovative recycling processes for lithium and post-lithium systems so that materials can be efficiently recovered at the end of their life cycles and recycled into new batteries. Later on, the project's findings will also be used in research on "design for circularity" approaches, i.e. designing batteries for recyclability from the outset.
KIT is also a partner (with the University of Stuttgart and Ulm University) in the QuantumBW.Net project at the QuantumBW Innovation Campus. The project's goal is to enable quantum-secure communication and quantum-specific functionality in real networks, an important step toward a quantum internet. "With QuantumBW.Net, we're connecting local test facilities to make the first multi-site quantum network between Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, and Ulm," saysid Professor David Hunger of the Physikalisches Institut at KIT. "That will open up new development and application scenarios for quantum-secure communication, with a national network as the long-term goal."
Funding by the European Regional Development Fund
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) promotes innovation, growth, and employment in Europe. In Baden Württemberg, its focus is on the critical sectors addressed by the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), an EU initiative.
With the ERDF funds, Baden Württemberg is systematically investing in key technologies, platforms, and modern large-scale equipment. The new infrastructure is available for use by the various innovation ecosystems, boosting Baden Württemberg's competitiveness as a science and technology location.
