Nord- und Lateinamerika

KIT’s engagement across North and Latin America is characterized by structured cooperation frameworks that advance academic mobility, collaborative research, innovation, and knowledge transfer. These initiatives span the region from Canada to Patagonia and involve universities, research centers, and industry partners. The following key programs and partnerships serve as central pillars of KIT’s strategy in the Americas.
 

GEARE (Global Engineering Alliance for Research and Education)

GEARE represents one of KIT’s most established international mobility formats for engineering students. The program enables participants to pursue integrated study periods at leading U.S. partner universities combined with professional internships in globally operating companies.

The objective of GEARE is to strengthen students’ intercultural competence, provide hands-on industry exposure, and cultivate international collaboration skills essential for global engineering careers. Through the combination of academic study, applied research, and practical training abroad, GEARE promotes the development of highly qualified graduates equipped to contribute to multinational and interdisciplinary engineering environments.

 

KIT-LINK – Transatlantic Innovation Network

KIT-LINK serves as a strategic platform that connects science, industry, and society across the Atlantic, fostering cooperation between Baden-Württemberg and the San Francisco Bay Area. Positioned at the interface of research and innovation, KIT-LINK stimulates knowledge transfer and strengthens innovation capabilities within a global context.

Supported by a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) in San Francisco and actively involving KIT alumni, the initiative promotes entrepreneurial thinking, facilitates collaboration on cutting-edge technology topics, and enhances the exchange of talent, ideas, products, and investments. KIT-LINK contributes to the establishment of bilateral innovation ecosystems and reinforces KIT’s presence in one of the world’s most dynamic technology hubs.

 

InterACT

InterACT is a structured academic exchange program that provides students with the opportunity to engage in integrated study periods, collaborative courses, and research activities with partner institutions in North America. The program promotes intercultural dialogue, academic cooperation, and the development of competencies essential for working in international and interdisciplinary contexts.

Through InterACT, students gain access to high-quality teaching environments abroad and benefit from exposure to diverse academic cultures and perspectives. The program facilitates the development of globally oriented graduates prepared to address emerging societal and technological challenges.

 

MINTernship

MINTernship offers KIT students the opportunity to gain international professional experience in STEM-related fields through internships with institutions and industry partners in North America. The initiative strengthens the practical application of technical knowledge, enhances professional skills, and supports early career development in an international context.

By linking academic learning with real-world industry exposure, MINTernship creates added value for students seeking to expand their global networks and to engage with cutting-edge research and innovation ecosystems. The initiative reinforces KIT’s commitment to promoting the mobility and professionalization of young scientific talent.

CHILE – Strategic Cooperation for Sustainability and Innovation

The strong binational relationship between Chile and Germany is reflected in interlinked scientific partnerships and strategic projects aimed at addressing global challenges including climate change, sustainability, and resource security. A diversity of initiatives—established in collaboration with Chilean universities and institutions—promote interdisciplinary research, innovation, and education, thereby consolidating the bilateral relationship and generating long-term mutual benefits.

Key cooperation structures include platforms and research networks that foster knowledge exchange in areas such as environmental sciences, energy transition, and sustainable development. These initiatives jointly strengthen academic collaboration, support talent mobility, and contribute to the development of climate-resilient solutions with regional and international impact.

SPUK – Strategic Partnership between KIT and UNSAM (Argentina)

Established in 2018, the Strategic Partnership between KIT and the Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM), known as SPUK, builds upon a long-standing history of scientific collaboration. The partnership aims to establish and expand interdisciplinary research frameworks in fields such as astrophysics, nanotechnology, geosciences, and urban planning.

A central achievement of this cooperation is the development of structured academic exchange formats, including the Double Doctoral Degree in Astrophysics launched in 2014 and a second double doctoral program in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology established in 2020. Further consolidation of the partnership has been supported through 18 preparatory projects funded by the KIT Strategy Fund, designed to secure long-term cooperation and foster future joint research initiatives.