From 15 to 20 March 2026, a delegation of over 20 scientists from KIT, led by Professor Dr. Thomas Hirth, Vice President Transfer and International Affairs, travelled to Canada to further deepen existing collaborations and establish new partnerships with leading Canadian institutions.

As the first stop of the trip, the delegation visited McGill University in Montreal, where discussions were held with representatives of the Engineering Department. The focus was on future-oriented topics such as energy, health technologies, artificial intelligence, as well as entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystems. In the afternoon, the delegation visited the AI institute Mila to explore joint research approaches in the field of artificial intelligence.

A two-day visit to the University of Waterloo, a long-standing partner of KIT, focused on expanding joint activities in research and teaching. Round-table discussions and workshops addressed potential collaborations in sustainable mobility, robotics, medical technology, energy, and human-technology interaction. A particular emphasis was placed on the link between science and start-up culture, including a visit to the university incubator Velocity. During a meeting between Professor Thomas Hirth and Charmaine Dean, Vice-President Research & International, the intensification of the strategic partnership between KIT and the University of Waterloo was discussed, and a new student exchange agreement was signed.

The delegation then continued to Western University in London (Ontario), with the aim of further strengthening existing collaborations and identifying new opportunities. In addition to scientific presentations and project discussions, visits to key research infrastructures were conducted, including the Advanced Manufacturing Park with FIP-Composites and the WindEEE research lab, the latter being a globally unique facility for simulating extreme wind conditions.

In a meeting between Professor Dr. Thomas Hirth and Professor Alan Shepard, President of Western University, strategic perspectives for future cooperation were discussed, as well as Western University’s experience in research funding and foundation-based financing.

On the final day of the visit, the delegation travelled to Toronto, where meetings took place with Yvonne Denz, President and CEO of the German-Canadian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and Consul General Anne Wagner-Mitchell. The delegation was informed about current developments in the German-Canadian economic and scientific relations as well as recent trends in the Canadian higher education and research landscape.

In an exchange with a network of Vice-Presidents of Canadian universities, the delegation gained further insights into strategic developments and cooperation priorities of Canadian higher education institutions. A reciprocal visit of the network to Germany is planned for May 2026, highlighting the strong interest in further strengthening collaboration between the two countries. Additional stops on that day included the SEW-Eurodrive Innovation Hub, as well as the University of Toronto with the Vector Institute as a leading centre for artificial intelligence.

In addition to this central program, KIT representatives also travelled individually to their respective cooperation partners, including Queen’s University in Kingston and the University of Toronto.

The visit highlighted the strong potential for deepening collaboration between KIT and its Canadian partners, particularly in future-oriented fields such as artificial intelligence, energy, health technologies, sustainable mobility, and entrepreneurship. Another key component is the expansion of student exchange programs combined with industry-related internships. In particular, the integration of exchange formats with industry-oriented research placements is intended to further enhance Germany’s attractiveness for Canadian students. These and other activities can be supported through participation in EU Horizon programs, KIT initiatives such as International Excellence Grants or Future Mobility Grants of ICM, as well as initiatives like Mitacs and the Ontario-Baden-Württemberg program.