Karl Benz, the inventor of the first practical automobile, studied mechanical engineering at the Polytechnic School in K... View More

Karl Benz, the inventor of the first practical automobile, studied mechanical engineering at the Polytechnic School in Karlsruhe, the historical predecessor of KIT. He graduated in 1864 at the age of just 19. His invention of the Motorwagen in 1885 revolutionized transportation and laid the foundation for the modern automotive industry. Benz's legacy continues through the global car brand Mercedes-Benz. View Less

Heinrich Hertz studied and later taught at KIT. He is renowned for proving the existence of electromagnetic waves in the... View More

Heinrich Hertz studied and later taught at KIT. He is renowned for proving the existence of electromagnetic waves in the late 19th century, providing the empirical basis for James Clerk Maxwell’s theory of electromagnetism. The term “Hertz” (Hz), a unit of frequency, is named in his honor and is fundamental to all modern electronics, including radio, television, and mobile communications. View Less

Hans Bethe studied at the Karlsruhe Institute before going on to win the Nobel Prize in Physics (1967) for his work on t... View More

Hans Bethe studied at the Karlsruhe Institute before going on to win the Nobel Prize in Physics (1967) for his work on the theory of nuclear reactions, particularly his explanation of how stars generate energy. He later contributed to the Manhattan Project in the United States and became a leading voice in nuclear ethics. View Less

An alumnus of KIT’s mechanical engineering program, Jürgen Schrempp played a crucial role in the automotive world dur... View More

An alumnus of KIT’s mechanical engineering program, Jürgen Schrempp played a crucial role in the automotive world during his time as CEO of Daimler-Benz, and later DaimlerChrysler. He led the high-profile merger between Daimler and Chrysler in the late 1990s and was considered one of Germany’s most powerful industrial executives during that era. View Less

Roland Mack, who studied mechanical engineering at KIT, is the founder of Europa-Park, Germany’s largest and most succ... View More

Roland Mack, who studied mechanical engineering at KIT, is the founder of Europa-Park, Germany’s largest and most successful theme park. His background in engineering played a major role in the technical and creative innovations of the park, which now attracts millions of visitors annually and is known worldwide for its roller coasters and themed attractions. View Less

Rainer Blatt, an internationally recognized physicist and graduate of KIT, is known for his work in quantum optics and q... View More

Rainer Blatt, an internationally recognized physicist and graduate of KIT, is known for his work in quantum optics and quantum information processing. He currently leads research in ion trap quantum computing at the University of Innsbruck and has played a key role in developing the first functional quantum logic gates. View Less

Martin Brudermüller, who completed his doctoral studies in chemistry at KIT, is the current Chairman of the Board of Ex... View More

Martin Brudermüller, who completed his doctoral studies in chemistry at KIT, is the current Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF, one of the world’s largest chemical companies. Under his leadership, BASF has expanded its focus on sustainability and digitalization in the chemical sector. View Less