Anniversary Conference | 25 Years French-German Double Degree & 5 Years French-German Institute for Industry of the Future

The anniversary event organized by KIT and Arts et Métiers within the framework of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union to celebrate 25 years of the KIT / Arts et Métiers double degree and 5 years of the French-German Institute for Industry of the Future took place in Metz, France, at the end of March.

The French Ambassador to Germany Anne-Marie Descôtes said that "the KIT - Arts et Métiers double degree and the recently established Franco-German PhD college focusing on the industry of the future contribute to the networking of young scientists who can shape research and development projects throughout Europe, and thus to the emergence of a European sovereignty. For this reason, this partnership between the two institutions is a successful model that should be taken as an example at the European level."

Jean Rottner, President of the Grand Est Region, Hans Reiter, Ministerial Director of the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg, Marianne Therre-Mano, German Consul in Strasbourg, and Francois Grosdidier, President of Eurométropole Metz, underlined that the two current crises related to the Corona pandemic and the Ukraine conflict strengthen the cohesion between Germany and France and between the countries of the European Union. One of the biggest challenges, he said, is that the energy sector and industry in Europe must become more independent.

Eva-Martha Eckkrammer, Vice-President of the Franco-German University (DFH), stressed the success of the DFH-promoted double diploma program, which has produced more than 850 "Franco-German engineers" and fits into the dynamics of strengthening cross-border cooperation the importance of which is recalled in the Aachen Treaty.

The representatives of the companies ArcelorMittal Research, VINCI Energies France, Stellantis, Thyssen Presta, ADDI-DATA GmbH and AP2L GmbH, as well as the Franco-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce who were present at the anniversary event underlined the importance of Franco-German and European cooperation. Engineers who have received a dual education and who are also influenced by both cultures are well prepared for the challenges of the future: "high speed, flexibility, mass production," the keys to success for international industrial companies.