KIT strengthens cooperation with Israel: Science in intercultural dialogue!

KIT strengthens cooperation with Israel: Science in intercultural dialogue!

Tel Aviv, Israel - On March 3, 2025, an important cooperation agreement was signed in the German Embassy in Tel Aviv. This affects the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the University of Haifa, Tel Aviv University and Hasoub, an innovation center for the Arabian population in Israel. The aim of this partnership is to promote scientific exchange in the Middle East and create intercultural dialogue. Among other things, the German ambassador Steffen Seibert and the President of the University Rectors' Conference, Professor Walter Rosenthal, were present. This sets a sign for increased cooperation in the areas of research, teaching and entrepreneurship, which also includes the exchange of students and researchers.

Hasoub, founded in 2014, plays a key role in promoting the integration of the Arab population in the high-tech sector. The Helmholtz community, the largest science organization in Germany, also plans to expand cooperation with German industrial partners. With an annual budget of over 6 billion euros and around 46,000 employees, this could have far -reaching positive effects on the scientific landscape. The KIT itself employs around 10,000 people and houses around 22,800 students with a focus on energy, mobility and information.

challenges of international exchange

In other European countries, such as Italy, Norway and Ireland, there are also efforts to reduce exchange with Israel, which shows how controversial scientific cooperation is now. Some institutions are particularly challenged by the EU Commission not to grant financing for Israeli research. These developments raise questions about the future of scientific collaborations and call for a rethink in the academic landscape.

digitization and new strategies

The Covid 19 pandemic also presented international exchange with immense challenges. In this context, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) promoted digital formats and hybrid models to maintain the exchange. In 2020, the DAAD supported around 111,000 students, graduates and researchers and developed a new strategic focus with a focus on excellence and international cooperation.

After Hamas' terrorist attacks in October 2023, the DAAD actively worked on maintaining academic exchange with Israel and the Palestinian areas. A new specialist program that was launched in 2024 aims to meet the need for internationally trained specialists in Germany. The DAAD looks back on 100 years of history and remains an important player in the international education sector, since Germany is considered one of the most important target countries for international students in 2024.