In October 2009, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) was established by a merger of Universitat Karlsruhe (TH, founded in 1825) and Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH (founded in 1956). The KIT pursues both the mission of a university with teaching and research tasks and the mission of a national research center of the Helmholtz Association conducting program-oriented provident research. Within these missions, KIT is operating along the three strategic fields of action of research, teaching, and innovation. Seven KIT Centers pool the program-oriented and coordinated research activities (Collaborative Research Centers, Transregio programs, EU projects, graduate schools, research training groups, and other projects) at the KIT, represent KITs strategic areas of research to the public, and act as communication and strategy platforms for partners within and outside of KIT. The approaches to scientific work pursued by the KIT Centers, their strategic objectives, and tasks are of unique and long-term character. Main topics are energy, nanotechnology and microsystems technology, mobility systems, elementary particle and astroparticle physics, climate and environment, computer sciences, anthropomatics and robotics, optics and photonics, humans and technology. With about 9400 employees, including 6000 staff members in the science and education sector, and 24,500 students, KIT is one of the biggest research and education institutions in Europe.
