The Cluster of Excellence 3DMM2O is jointly run by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Heidelberg University. 

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

In 2009, following a successful bid in the German Universities Excellence Initiative, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) was founded in a merger of the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH and Universität Karlsruhe (TH). Fulfilling the functions of both former institutions, KIT combines tasks of a university of the state of Baden-Württemberg with those of a centre of the Helmholtz Association in the areas of research, teaching, and innovation. In 2019, KIT was selected as a University of Excellence in the German Excellence Strategy.

With more than 9,000 employees, 24,300 students and an annual budget of about 900 million EUR, KIT is one of the biggest research and education institutions worldwide and reaches top results in international rankings, especially in natural sciences as well as engineering and technology.

KIT is especially known for its engineering department, which not only has a long and successful tradition but also a reputation for its dominance in the number of intakes at the university. This is reflected in KIT being ranked highly in the discipline Mechanical Engineering, e.g., fourth in Germany in the Times Higher Education World University ranking in 2019.

KIT is an institution of top research, excellent scientific education, and a prominent location of academic life, life-long learning, comprehensive advanced training, unrestricted exchange of know-how, and sustainable innovation culture.

For the standards of excellence to be accomplished in the best possible way, KIT’s research covers the complete range from fundamental research to close-to-industry, applied research and from small research partnerships to long-term large-scale research projects.

Heidelberg University

Heidelberg University was founded in 1386, making it Germany’s oldest university. It is a research university of international standing with a leading position within Germany and Europe that competed successfully in both rounds of the German Universities Excellence Initiative (2005, 2017). In 2019, Heidelberg University was selected as a University of Excellence in the German Excellence Strategy.

Heidelberg University’s reputation is especially strong in the life sciences, as evidenced by the QS World University Rankings 2019, in which Heidelberg University was ranked as being one of the best 40 universities worldwide in the research area. Furthermore, it was ranked the second-best German university in the life sciences overall. In the Shanghai Ranking 2018, which mainly focuses on research output, Heidelberg University was ranked as the best German university overall.

Furthermore, Heidelberg University can look back on a long tradition of innovation and success in the natural sciences: Several people integral to the historical development of the natural sciences in Germany have studied and worked at the institution, e.g., Robert Bunsen and Hermann von Helmholtz.

The university is one of the most important educational institutions in the state of Baden-Württemberg with its 30,000 students, over 13,000 staff members and an annual budget of more than 730 million EUR.

Heidelberg University’s identity as a comprehensive university drives its interdisciplinary stance that aims to make possible essential contributions toward the solution of major issues facing humanity, society, and government in an increasingly changing world.

Karlsruhe

KIT's campus lies on the Kaiserstrasse, the main street of Karlsruhe, and it borders on the Hardtwald Forest, a perfect place to take a stroll. The campus is almost 60 hectares large. The proximity to Alsace and the mild climate of the Rhine River gives the Baden metropolis an almost Mediterranean flair in the summer. Known worldwide, the city has a fan-like ground plan thanks to the Margrave Karl Wilhelm von Baden-Durlach. Founded in 1715, Karlsruhe is the second-largest city in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. It is also known as the "Residence of Justice" because the seat of Germany's two supreme courts (the Federal Constitutional Court and the Federal Supreme Court) is located in Karlsruhe.

Karlsruhe lies in south-western Germany on the western edge of Baden-Württemberg and has over 300,000 residents. The city enjoys many diverse leisure, culture, and sports options, which offer something for everyone. 

Heidelberg

The name of Heidelberg stands not only for its world-famous castle, for Germany's oldest university, and for lanes steeped in history in the old town, but also for a modern scientific and economic location. With over ten museums, the city theatre, a number of cultural centres, concert halls, and orchestras as well as numerous festivals, Heidelberg also offers a very lively cultural scene.

Of the 140,000 people living in Heidelberg, a city regarded as one of the most beautiful in Germany, about one-fifth are students. With 20% of them hailing from other countries, it is no surprise that the local library has a wide selection of books in English, French, Spanish, and Russian, while cinemas often show English-language films. Countless bars and restaurants attract students with their affordable prices and long opening hours.