Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has been successful in the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments again. Following the review by international experts in early December last year, the Excellence Commission confirmed today (March 11, 2026) that KIT may continue to bear the title of University of Excellence. This comes with funding totaling up to EUR 105 million over the next seven years. The Excellence Strategy competition is the most demanding university competition in German science. Of the ten presently existing Universities of Excellence and one University Consortium of Excellence, nine universities and one consortium will continue to receive funding from January 2027.
The Excellence Commission has decided today that KIT will remain one of Germany's selected Universities of Excellence. "We are overjoyed. This is the reward for the great efforts of recent years," says Professor Jan S. Hesthaven, President of KIT. "I would like to thank everyone who has supported the further development of KIT and believed in our renewed title win. We are delighted about this award and the funding as a University of Excellence. This will enable us to further strengthen our leading international position in research and to implement our "Science for Impact" vision even faster. This will be important because the challenges of our time require bold solutions that science and society must develop in close partnership."
"Without the success of our two Clusters of Excellence, we would not have been able to reapply for the title. It is here, where the decisive foundation was laid, for which I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved," emphasizes Professor Oliver Kraft, KIT Vice President Academic Affairs. "Today's decision shows that we were able to convince the members of the Excellence Commission of our successes reached as a University of Excellence over the past seven years. These successes reflect that our research is among the best in the world and of great relevance to society. I am proud of our joint achievement. This is both an incentive and a mission for the future." Kraft also thanks everyone who contributed to the successful application for the University of Excellence title.
KIT's Excellent Research Performance Impresses Reviewers
In early December last year, the international commission of experts conducted an onsite visit of KIT, where KIT presented its successes of the past years and its strategic plans for the years to come. Its research strengths lie primarily at the interface between engineering and natural sciences. They range from quantum technologies to battery and materials research to health technologies. The number of collaborative research centers acquired has increased significantly and more top positions have been reached in rankings. Researchers have received more awards. In addition, KIT established nearly 50 additional professorships, tripled the number of tenure-track professorships, and increased the proportion of women by a third. Moreover, KIT's unique selling point is that it is the only university with a large-scale research mission. KIT's "Science for Impact" vision has convinced the reviewers, as it consistently continues KIT's way towards a modern and agile institution.
Funding as a University of Excellence Will Strengthen Socially Relevant Research
KIT intends to use the financial opportunities associated with its funding as a University of Excellence to successfully strengthen the three pillars of its vision "shaping tomorrow," "advancing science and innovation," and "nurturing talents" and to push them with targeted measures. The KIT Future Fields funding instrument will continue to support outstanding researchers across all disciplines by providing additional financial freedom to develop and implement forward-looking research projects.
KIT will consistently expand its cutting-edge research. The Research Infrastructures in Research-oriented Teaching funding instrument contributes to integrating KIT's large research infrastructures into innovative teaching and learning formats.
To help master current challenges facing society, it is essential to reflect on scientific findings and test them in dialog with society. It is planned to link research and transfer activities even more closely with urban stakeholders in a "Science City."
In addition, KIT intends to invest even more in its own strengths in future. The two Clusters of Excellence in battery and materials research fit perfectly to the German government's high-tech agenda, as do the topics of cybersecurity, microelectronics, quantum and fusion research. Research into health technologies will be further expanded and the transfer of research findings into society will be promoted through the existing real-world laboratories.
Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments
The aim of the Excellence Strategy is to strengthen Germany's position as an outstanding research hub in the long term and further improve its international competitiveness. The "Universities of Excellence" funding line serves to sustainably strengthen universities and further develop their leading international role in research. Ten Universities of Excellence and one University Consortium of Excellence exist until late 2026. Of these, nine universities and one consortium will be granted continued funding as of 2027 based on today's decision. To apply for the title, universities required at least two successful Clusters of Excellence. KIT succeeded in acquiring them in May last year. The Cluster 3D Matter Made to Order run in cooperation with Heidelberg University convinced the reviewers, as did research into viable solutions for electrochemical energy storage of the Post Lithium Storage Cluster that is operated together with Ulm University and the University of Gießen.
