Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) pools its three core tasks of research, higher education, and innovation in a mission. With about 9,300 employees and 25,000 students, KIT is one of the big institutions of research and higher education in natural sciences and engineering in Europe.

Two institutions of KIT work in close cooperation with ESA²:

Institute for Industrial Production (KIT-IIP): The Institute for Industrial Production was established in 1982 at the University of Karlsruhe. In 2008, two new chairs were established – namely the Chair of Business Administration, Production and Operations Management and the Chair of Energy Economics. At the chair of Energy Economics techno-economic questions are analysed along the whole energetic value chain, from primary energy production and energy conversion and transport to energy distribution and use. The scientific research is focused on the electricity system, i.e. energy markets, integration of generation by renewable energy sources, power flow on different grid levels, smart grids and electric mobility. Analyses are undertaken by advanced energy system modelling with a focus on approaches in the field of operations research.

Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (KIT-ITAS): The Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis investigates scientific and technological developments with a focus on their impacts and possible systemic and unintended effects. It produces analytical knowledge and assessments of socio-technical developments in order to provide policy and design options for decision makers. The research covers ethical, ecological, economic, social, political-institutional and cultural questions. Major goals are advice for research and technology policy, the provision of knowledge for the design of socio-technical systems and the organization and observation of discursive processes on open and controversial questions of technology policy.