Visit of Her Exzellency Ambassador Heike Thiele at KIT

Besuch Botschafterin Gruppenfoto

Her Exzellency Ambassador Heike Thiele from the  Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Council of Europe in  Strasbourg (France) visited KIT on October, 28th, 2025 to explore the institute’s strengths in Quantum Science- and Technology and to identify opportunities for future French – German collaboration. Reference was made to a close German-French cooperation in this field, and here in particular to the leading, long-standing activities of KIT in close collaboration with the University of Strasbourg, but also with universities in Grenoble, Nancy, and Paris.

Over the years, an intensive cross-border collaboration has developed between the Institute of Quantum Materials and Technologies (IQMT) at KIT and the European Center for Quantum Sciences (CESQ) in Strasbourg—partly actively supported by the state of Baden-Württemberg—through joint professorships, graduate schools and major EU projects. The continuation of this collaboration was explicitly reaffirmed on September 29, 2025, in Strasbourg with the signing of an MoU by Quantum Baden-Württemberg and the Maison Quantique of the Région Grand Est, in the presence of Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann.

Prof. Dr. Anja Metelmann (cross-border professor KIT- Uni Strasbourg), Prof. Dr. Mario Ruben (adjoint professor KIT- Uni Strasbourg) and Prof. Dr. David Hunger (KIT) provided an in-depth presentation on KIT’s research landscape in quantum sciences and technologies. Dr. Birgitta Kappes presented Eucor – the European Campus and Dr. Manuella Werp presented the research collaborations between KIT and French research institutions. At KIT, numerous topics along the entire value chain are being researched—from fundamentals to materials, algorithms, and software stacks, all the way to application-oriented technologies. KIT possesses outstanding expertise in the synthesis and characterization of novel superconductors, particularly iron-based systems, hydrides under high pressure, and two-dimensional materials. In parallel, strong theory groups are advancing new concepts for quantum-critical phenomena, topological states, and superconducting mechanisms. A lab visit

The visit concluded with a strategic meeting with Prof. Dr. Tina Schäfer, KIT Vice Provost for Research. Together, participants discussed concrete avenues for cooperation aimed at deepening the partnership between the two institutions. At the conclusion of the official visit, the program was rounded out by a tour of the laboratory of Prof Hunger, where a table cryostat was presented. This demonstration provided a concrete illustration of the research capabilities discussed earlier and highlighted the cutting-edge cryogenic technology being developed at KIT.