[19th century] [20th century] [21st century]

The 19th Century

[1828]  [1833]  [1844/46]  [1851]  [1865]  [1871]  [1873]  [1875]  [1883]  [1890]  

1828

1 May: The Technical School is founded in Dresden and the Royal Saxon Commerce Deputation takes over the administration. Wilhelm Gotthelf Lohrmann (1796-1840), who did great scientific service as Inspector of the Saxon Cameral Survey, is the director. For the time being, the domicile of the institute is located very modestly in the Garden Pavilion on Brühlsche Terrasse and in a vault of the Kuffenhaus on Zeughaus Square.

Outstanding teachers were convinced of the merits of working at the institute. Among them was Johann Andreas Schubert, designer of the first operational German steam locomotive "Saxonia."

1833

Due to the need for substantially more space, the Technical School is moved to the former armory at Jüdenhof.

1844/46

A new building is erected at Anton Square, according to the plans of the architects Heine (1802-1880) and Arndt (1807-1889), to house the Technical School. Gottfried Semper (1803-1879) gives his expert opinion of the new building, in which he also writes about fundamental thoughts concerning architectural problems.

1851

The establishment is renamed the Royal Polytechnical School. Under the initiative of the Director, Julius Ambrosius Hülsse (1812-1876), and with the close cooperation of the Royal Government Commissioner Dr. Weinlig, the "Upper Department" is divided into three sections that concentrate the students into three subject areas. The right exists to award certificates, based on "Matriculation Examinations," which allow the bearer to pursue a subject as a trade.

1865

Introduction of a new organizational plan. The "Lower Department" now sets up a "General Course" that all students must take. The "Sections" of the "Upper Department" are developed into four technical schools: Mechanical Technical School (A), Engineering School (B), Chemistry Technical School (C), and another school whose tasks consist of training future teachers of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology. The program duration at the technical schools is set at three years. The distinction is now made between "students" who take the "General Course" and students who attend the Technical School.

1871

In recognition of the high level of the education offered in technology and the natural sciences, the school is renamed the Royal Saxon Polytechnical College. The Polytechnical College takes on the character of a university. The administrative hierarchy is still organized autocratically, however. The technical schools are now referred to as departments. 281 students are enrolled at the college (more than 60 % belong to the Engineering Department).

1873

Gustav Zeuner (1828-1907), internationally renowned Thermodynamics Engineer and Epistemologist, is appointed Director of the Polytechnical College. Besides taking classes in the Technological Sciences and Natural Sciences, studying the Arts and Linguistics is also highly regarded. Thus, the following subjects are taught in the "General Sciences Department": Economics, Jurisprudence, Philosophy, History, Art History, History of Literature, and Modern Languages.

1875

The representative main building of the Polytechnical College is completed near the main train station. With the founding of the Structural Engineering Department, the tradition of teaching architecture at the college is established.
 

1883

Introduction of the Diplom Examination in place of the Absolutorium. Students are now required to write a Master's thesis, as is the case at the Universities of Technology in Vienna, Graz, and Stuttgart.

1890

The status of the Polytechnical College increases. It is now called the Royal Saxon Technical College. Ernst Hartig (1836-1900), professor of Mechanical Technology, becomes the first elected College Rector. 308 students, including 28 foreigners, are registered at the university.

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THE 20. Century

[1900] [1902] [1913] [1914/18] [1918] [1919] [1921] [1922] [1923] [1924] [1925] [1928] [1929] [1933/34] [1936] [1942] [1945] [1946] [1949] [1950] [1952] [1954] [1955] [1956] [1957] [1961] [1965] [1968] [1986] [1990] [1991] [1993] [1994] [1995] [1996] [1997] [1998] [1999]

1900

The Doctoral Degree Regulations take effect.
Friedrich Siemens (1826-1904) receives the first honorary doctorate from the TH Dresden. 1007 students study at the TH Dresden (Technical College of Dresden), including 232 foreigners, primarily from Eastern and Southern Europe, but also from overseas. According to the plans of Karl Weißbach (1841-1905), large buildings are erected for the Mechanical Engineering laboratories and the Electrotechnology Institute on the grounds at the foot of the Räcknitzer Höhe (on George Bähr Street and Helmholtz Street in the southern suburb that was being developed at the time) . Shortly thereafter, this complex is expanded to include an Electricity and Heating Power Station.

1902

Arthur Schloßmann (1867-1932) is appointed Associate Professor of Physiological Chemistry and General Physiology. As early as 1897, Schloßmann, together with the major industrialist Karl August Lingner (1861-1916) and other Dresden citizens, founds the "Verein Kinderpoliklinik in Johannstadt mit Säuglingsheim" that erects the first in-patient institute for the care of infants in the world in 1898. The institute becomes the precedent for today's Children's Hospital of the Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine.

1913

The Faculty of Civil Engineering receives a large and representative new building, known today as "Beyer-Bau".

1914/18

322 members of the College are killed in battle during World War I in their role as enlisted men, non-commissioned officers, and officers. Among them is fighter pilot and former TH Dresden student Max Immelmann (1890-1916).

1918

The Institute of Automotive Engineering is founded under the direction of Adolph Nägel (1875-1939).

1919

The Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science is founded.

1919/20

Introduction of the Foreign Studies Seminar.

1921

Founding of the "Society of Sponsors and Friends of the Technical College of Dresden", which the leading representatives of the Saxon State Government, industry, and banks join.

Establishment of the association "Economic Aid for the German Student Body" (since 1929 known as the "Deutsches Studentenwerk" at the TH Dresden). After the first successful efforts in the form of the "Dresden University Economic Society," this Dresden student self-help organization develops into one of the leading organizations of its kind in Germany.
The General Department is separated from the Mathematics-Natural Sciences Department.

1922

Economics becomes a subject in the General Department of the TH Dresden. As opposed to at the universities, the focus at TH Dresden is not only on technical subjects, but also on Industrial Psychology and Psychotechnology.

1923

Incorporation of the College of Education Dresden-Strehlen into the General Department of the College (as of 1925 known as the Department of Cultural Studies). Economics, Political Science, Jurisprudence, Pedagogy, History, Art History, Comparative Linguistics, and Comparative Literature are firmly established at the TH. The university character of the college thereby steadily grows.

1924

Founding of the Institute of Measurement Engineering and Interchangeable Manufacture under the direction of Georg Berndt (1880-1972). Expansion of the Physics Institute, including setting up the Laboratory for Applied Radiography.

1925

Completion of the residence hall on the site donated by Theodor Bienert.

1928

Under the rectorship of Adolph Nägel, the TH Dresden celebrates its 100th anniversary on June 4, 1928. The university now has 63 full, 22 associate, and 17 honorary professors. 24 private lecturers are also teaching. The number of students reaches 2705, with an additional 332 students attending and sitting in on lectures.

1929

By ministerial decree, the Tharandt Forestry Academy (later called the Forestry College), founded by Heinrich Cotta (1763-1844) and one of the oldest academic training institutions for forestry in the world, is annexed to the TH Dresden as a department.

1933/34

The College is forced into line and the Principle of Leadership is introduced. Because of the "Law for the Reestablishment of Permanent Civil Service", famous university teachers are forced out of their posts and suffer reprisals. Among them are the physicist and discoverer of the crystal photon effect, Harry Dember (1882-1943), the romanist Victor Klemperer (1881-1960), the doctor and hygienist Rainer Fetscher (1895-1945), the political scientist Robert Wilbrandt (1875-1954), and Paul Luchtenberg (1890-1973), professor of Pedagogy, Philosophy, and Psychology, and future co-founder of the FDP and Culture Secretary of North-Rhein Westphalia.

1936

The College of Education is separated from the TH Dresden.

1942

The College departments are renamed faculties:

•     Faculty of General Science
•     Faculty of Civil Engineering
•     Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
•     Faculty of Forestry Science

1945

Air raids over Dresden on February 13 and 14, 1945 cause great loss of life at the university. Many buildings are heavily damaged or destroyed.Soviet occupation forces take control of the College. Most members of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) are fired from their posts as teachers or administrators. Some of those who are let go are later re-hired.

1946

The Technical College of Dresden reopens under the most difficult conditions. The internationally recognized Professor of the Bases of Mechanical Engineering and Conveying Engineering, Dr. Enno Heidebroek (1876-1955), becomes the first rector.
Setting up of:

•     Faculty of Education
•     Faculty of Municipal Economics
•     Faculty of Forestry

491 students are enrolled with the permission of the Soviet Military Administration in Germany (SMAD) (453 students actually begin to study). They are taught by 42 university teachers, including several lecturers and assistants.

1949

7 Faculties are established (including the faculty that prepares young factory and agricultural workers for studying at universities that emerged from an institution for preliminary studies): Fakultät für Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften

•     Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
•     Faculty of Civil Engineering
•     Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering
•     Faculty of Economics and Traffic and Transportation Science
•     Faculty of Forestry Science
•     Faculty of Education and Cultural Studies

1950

On April 25, 1950, the foundation stone is laid for the new complex of buildings on the road "Zellescher Weg", which today houses institutes of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Since 1961, a part of the building complex has been called "Willers-Bau". In 1994, the lecture hall building is named "Trefftz-Bau". On April 20, 1951, the Faculty of Transport and Communications is opened and the foundation stone is laid for the building complex on the street "Hettnerstraße".

1952

On the basis of a central decision, the Faculty of Transport and Communicationsat the Technical College of Dresden becomes the College of Transport and Communications in September 1952. The Faculty of Electrical Engineering is founded (until 1951 there was a Department of Electrical Engineering within the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering). Among the most well-known scientists are Heinrich Barkhausen (1881-1956) and Ludwig Binder (1881-1958).

1954

The Department of Lightweight Construction is founded on instructions of the State Secretariat for Higher Education.

1955

Already in 1950, construction begins on the new Low-Voltage Institute called the Barkhausen Building. Until 1955, the first three stages of construction of the extensive building complex between Helmholtzstraße and Georg-Schumann-Straße are completed. The complex is used by the Department of Electrical Engineering. Founding of the Department of Nuclear Technology. It remains until 1962.
There are 9 Departments.

1956 - 1960

On the North side of the road "Zellescher Weg" the "Andreas-Schubert-Bau" for the newly-founded Department of Nuclear Technology is erected. In 1962, this department is dissolved. Today it is used by various institutes of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

1956

Aus der bisherigen Fakultät für Leichtbau der TH Dresden wird die Fakultät für Luftfahrtwesen gebildet. Im Jahre 1961 erfolgt deren Auflösung.

1957

The TH Dresden takes over the former District Court building. The construction and renovation of the building complex that was heavily destroyed in the war lasts until 1961. Primary users are the Faculties of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Hydroscience and Forestry. Since 1961 it is called "Georg Schumann Bau". After 1990, parts of the building complex are renamed "Hülsse-Bau" and "Tillich-Bau".

1961

The Technical College of Dresden receives the status of Technical University. During the ceremonies on October 5, 1961, the rectorship is given from Werner Gruner (1904-1995) to Kurt Schwabe (1905-1983). Kurt Schwabe was the leading sponsor of the founding of the university. 10,741 students are registered, of which 4 per cent are foreigners.

1965

The Technical College of Dresden receives the status of Technical University. During the ceremonies on October 5, 1961, the rectorship is given from Werner Gruner (1904-1995) to Kurt Schwabe (1905-1983). Kurt Schwabe was the leading sponsor of the founding of the university. 10,741 students are registered, of which 4 per cent are foreigners.

1968

In accordance with the 3rd University Reform, the structure of the TU Dresden (Dresden University of Technology) is also radically changed. Structures which have grown over history are negated under increasing party-political influence. The traditional scientific institutes are done away with. The Departments lose their original significance. 22 Sections are formed.

1986

The Dresden Engineering University, rich in tradition and founded in 1861 as a trade school, is united with the TU Dresden and becomes the Center for Information Studies of the university system of the GDR. At the end of 1990, the Faculty of Computer Science is founded.

1990

Setting up of Faculties (February 12, 1990):

•     Faculty of Social Sciences
•     Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
•     Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Electronics
•     Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
•     Faculty of Construction, Hydroscience, and Forestry

Election of the new senate from the circle of chosen members of the Academic Council (February 26, 1990).
Election of Professor Günther Landgraf [2] of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering to Rector by the Academic Council (Investiture on March 12, 1990).
11,220 students are registered, of which 8.6 % are foreigners.

1991

The Senior Governmental Director Alfred Post, formerly Vice-Chancellor of the Universität-Gesamthochschule Essen, becomes Chancellor of TU Dresden. The reconstruction of the University Administration begins. 13,000 students are enrolled.
Beginning of the integration of the "Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Wander" College of Education and the university part of the "Friedrich List" College of Transport and Communications into the TU Dresden. Preparation of the founding of a Faculty of Medicine at the TU Dresden.

Festive refounding of the Society of Sponsors and Friends of the Dresden University of Technology. The first founding celebrates its 70th anniversary. The TU Dresden becomes a member of the German Research Association (DFG).
Founding of the Academy of Further Education and Transfer of Knowledge at the Dresden University of Technology e. V.

1991/94

Confirmation and newfounding of the following faculties on the basis of the Law concerning the Structure of the University System and the Universities in the Free State of Saxony of April 10, 1992

    Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
    Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
    Faculty of Electrical Engineering
    Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (until April 30, 1993)
    Faculty of Philosophy
    Result of inclusion of parts of the - Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (April 30 / May 1,1993)
    Faculty of Linguistics and Literature
    Result of take over of parts of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (April 30 / May 1,1993)
    Faculty of Computer Science
    November 6, 1990 founding of the faculty; celebration on April 18, 1991
    Faculty of Education Sciences
    July 9, 1993, founding of the Faculty
    Faculty of Law
    February 12, 1991 founding of the Faculty; celebration on March 7, 1991
    Faculty of Transport and Communications "Friedrich List"
    November 6, 1992 founding of the Faculty and celebration
    Faculty of Economics and Business Management
    October 12, 1993 founding of the Faculty
    Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus
    October 1, 1993 founding of the Faculty; October 25, 1993 celebration
    Faculty of Construction, Hydroscience, and Forestry
    Dissolved in 1994. Formation of three new Faculties:
    Faculty of Forestry, Water Science, and Geosciences (February 21, 1994)
    Faculty of Civil Engineering (January 1, 1994)
    Faculty of Architecture (May 17, 1994)

1993

Academic Council meets at the TU Dresden and for the first time in the new Federal States. The Hannah Arendt Institute for the Research of Totalitarianism is opened on the basis of a comprehensive resolution of the state parliament.

1994

Professor Achim Mehlhorn of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences is elected Rector by the Council of the TU Dresden in June 1994 (Re-elected in 1997).
A Heart Center is opened at the Faculty of Medicine.

1995

The Technology Center Dresden receives a new building as a science transfer partner of the University. The University opens the reconstructed Guest House on the street "Einsteinstraße".

1996

Foundation stone is laid for the new Lecture Hall Center of the TU Dresden with four large lecture halls, twelve seminar rooms and one art room, with a total of 3,470 seats.
Topping-out ceremony for another nursing house at the main entrance of the University Hospital and for a second Guest House at Weber Square.
Founding of the Institute for Air and Space Technology.
Founding of the Saxon State Library, State and University Library Dresden on the basis of a law.
First heart transplant in Dresden (in 1977 the first liver transplant within the then COMMICON), Handing over of the Bone Marrow Transplant Center of the University Hospital.
Festive celebration on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the reopening of the TH/TU Dresden.

1997

The Foundation Association of German Science awarded the title "Reform University" to TU Dresden due to its innovative reform ideas and makes available to it the sum of 600 000 DM for continuing these activities. The university has developed a competent management structure; the distribution of resources to the faculties is carried out according to performance-related criteria and, compared to other universities, controlling is extremely well developed.  Marketing and public relations are exemplary, according to the evaluation by the Foundation Association. Thus, TU Dresden is among the most innovative universities of Germany.

Roofing ceremony for the Auditorium Centre in Bergstraße.

Inaugural ceremony of the new building of the Cardio-Vascular Centre of Dresden on the site of the University Hospital "Carl Gustav Carus" (29 September 1999). It is financed by the private "Roland Ernst Foundation  for Public Health" and by a real estate fund.

1998

Since January the High Performance Calculation Centre (ZHR), as a centrally located scientific institution, supports the faculties in their teaching and research tasks.

The new Auditorium Centre of TU Dresden will open on 13 October 1998. Herewith, TU Dresden has at its disposal the, so far, largest and most modern  Auditorium Centre of East Germany. Six lecture halls with a total of 2.840 seats, among them the auditorium maximum with 1.000 seats, as well as 10 seminar rooms and one drawing hall are available to professors and students.

1999

On 27 April 1999, Kofi Annan, the General Secretary of the United Nations, will be awarded the degree of honorary doctor of the TU Dresden in recognition of his excellent qualification in economics and his outstanding achievements in the planning and the implementation of the reorganisation of the UN as well as in the creation of citizen-friendly and quickly-reacting UN structures. With the degree of honorary doctor being conferred upon Kofi Annan, the international politician is honored by the Faculty of Economics for his academic and practical efforts in the propagation of sustained world-wide economisation based on social market economy.

The Media Design Center (MDC) of the University commences its work. As a centre of high competency the MDC offers research-relevant services in the field of virtual learning and teaching within and without the university.
Verleihung der Ehrendoktorwürde der TU Dresden an den UN-Generalsekretär Kofi Annan

The General Secretary of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, is awarded of the honorary doctoral degree

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The 21. Century

[2000] [2001] [2002] [2003] [2004] [2005] [2006] [2007] [2008] [2009] [2010] [2011] [2012] (2013) (2015) (2016) (2017)

2000

On 31 May, the Medical Theory Centre (MTZ) at the TU Dresden will be handed over. The MTZ includes seven institutes of pre-clinical research and clinical theory, the Experimental Centre of the Faculty of Medicine and approximately 3.000 square metres for research purposes. Additionally available are two lecture halls, classrooms for practical work and eight seminar rooms with a total capacity of approximately 700 seats.
 

On 19 June 2000 Nobel prize winner Professor Günter Blobel, MD/ PhD (Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Cell Biology, New York) will be appointed honorary senator of the TU Dresden. With this appointment the university not only expresses its appreciation of the Nobel prize winner. Over and above that, Mr. Blobel, as an honorary senator, will contribute his  expert knowledge from his work in research and science to act as an advisor to  the Senate of TU Dresden.

2001

On 14 March the regulations for the the management and the operation of the Biotechnological Centre of the TU Dresden (BIOTEC) will be adopted by the Senate. BIOTEC is a centrally located scientific institution aiming at using the rapidly developing rate of knowledge in modern biology and biochemistry in medicine, technology, and  nutritional development.

On 16 October the first part of the new building of the Chemical Institute at  TU Dresden will be handed over. This building offers excellent working conditions for the almost 200 employees of the Institute of Organic Chemistry, Food - and Biochemistry as well as Analytical Chemistry.

2002

On 16 April the Max-Bergmann-Centre for Biomaterials will be inaugurated. The new research building was established in co-operation with TU Dresden and the Institute of Polymere Research (IPF). The scientific policy of the centre has the goal to become a structural model for close co-opration between universities and institutions of the Scientific Asociation "Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz".

For the first time in the history of the university there are more than
30.000 students enrolled, among them 8.5 percent international.

2003

On 14 January the new Saxon State and University Library (SLUB) will open in Zellescher Weg. With its almost 30.000 square metres of principal utilisable space, six million media units and 990 seats in reading rooms, it is the fourth-largest and most modern library in Germany.

In May, TU Dresden celebrates its 175th anniversary with a week of festivities. Solely for this occasion Professor Wilfried Krätzschmar has composed a symphony, which will be performed at the "Große Haus" Theatre on 3 May. Further highlights are the first exhibition of "Fascination: Art + Technology" in  the new ALTANA-Gallery at the renovated Görges-Bau and the performance of the play "Alma: Journey Through Time" by Walther Henkel performed by students and staff members during the ceremony on 6 May.

On 9 July Professor Hermann Kokenge will be elected new Rector of TU Dresden. He will succeed Prof. Dr. Achim Mehlhorn, who had held the position for three terms of office.

On 10 July the Saxon Prime Minister, Georg Mibradt, will sign the University Contract. With this, the universities in Saxony shall receive personnel and financial planning security until  2010. This contract, also called "university consense", means for TU Dresden that, among other things, the Faculty of Law will be transferred to Leipzig. Simultaneously, the courses of studies for civil engineering students as well as the students of trade and commerce will be concentrated on Dresden. The contract negotiations had been accompanied by students´ protests.

On 22 October the foundation-stone was laid for the new building of the Department of Computer Science.

2004

Work started on the renovation of the TU Dresden building complex in Mommsenstraße – the former office of the rectorial board / the central administration / the old dining halls Alte Mensa.

In March 2004, a topping-out ceremony marks the completion of the new buildings for the TU Dresden biology institutes on Zellescher Weg.

May 2004 sees the official start of the Children’s University with more than 1,000 children registering for the lecture programme.

In November 2004, a topping-out ceremony is held to celebrate the completion of the new building for the department of computer science in Nöthnitzer Straße.

Chipmakers AMD and Infineon in co-operation with Fraunhofer Society open the Fraunhofer Center Nanoelectronic Technologies (CNT).

2005

On 1 July 2005, the nuclear training reactor AKR-2 is commissioned by the TU Dresden scientific community. The new construction of the AKR-2 allows academics and students of TU Dresden to work at the most modern nuclear training reactor in Germany.

On 9 September 2005, ground is officially broken for the Diagnostic-Internal-Neurological Centre (DINZ) at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden.

2006

In January 2006, the former rector of TU Dresden, Professor Achim Mehlhorn, becomes president of the further education institution Dresden International University (DIU).

TUD is the only university in East Germany that was granted funding both of a graduate school (Dresden International Graduate School for Biomedicine and Bioengineering) and an excellence cluster (From Cells to Tissues to Therapies) in the first round of the excellence initiative for promoting top-class university research.
 
In October 2006, the new building of the Faculty of Computer Science in Nöthnitzer Straße is inaugurated; in 2014 it is named Andreas Pfitzmann building.

And also the new buildings for the biological institutes (Zellescher Weg) are brought into service.

On 1 November 2006, the rector’s post is filled for the term 2006 to 2009 after three ballots. The outgoing holder, Professor Hermann Kokenge, got the most votes in the third ballot.

2007

In July, the administration building in Mommsenstraße is reopened after several years of renovation.

At the same time, extensive  renovation and the new addition to the dining hall complex Mensa Mommsenstraße are completed.

Moreover this is the year that TU Dresden receives the basic certificate of the audit ‘family-friendly university’. Along with the Saxon State Ministry of Science and Art and the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research TU Dresden forms the core of the Dresden network Dresdner Netzwerk berufundfamilie (Dresden Network Career and Family) that is joined by further institutions.

2008

On 17 July 2008, the topping-out ceremony for the second section of the new addition to the chemical institutes is held.

Late in autumn, students from allover Saxony come to Dresden to protest against the amendment of the Law on Higher Education in the Free State of Saxony.

2009

In January 2009 the TU Dresden teamed up with 14 strong partners from the world of science and culture to establish a unique, country-wide Alliance “DRESDEN-concept” (Dresden Research and Education Synergies for the Development of Excellence and Novelty). The goal is to increase the visibility of the Dresden research excellence.

In June, students once again took to the streets with the “Education Strike” action.

On 14^th October 2009, the extensively renovated and modernised “Trefftz-Bau” was reinaugurated.

2010

The first part of the construction project of the Diagnostic Internistic Neurological Centre (DINZ) is completed. The “SIB – Staatsbetrieb Sächsiches Immobilien- und Baumanagement” (Saxonian, state-owned Real Estate and Construction Management company) hands over the extended “House 48” to the university hospital.

In June 2010, the extended Senate of the TU Dresden elected Prof. Dr. Dr.-Ing. Habil. Hans Müller-Steinhagen as rector for a five-year term of office. Prior to that, Prof. Müller-Steinhagen was the Director of the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) as well as Professor and Director of the University of Stuttgart’s Institute for Thermodynamics and Thermal Engineering.

In September 2012, the TU Dresden submits a comprehensive application package for the “Excellence Initiative” launched by the German state and federal government. The aim of the Excellence Initiative is to promote top-level research and to improve the quality of Germany as a university and science location, as well as to sustainably strengthen it.

In 2010, The Student Foundation Dresden has been selected as a “Hochschulperle” by the “Stifterverband” (an initiative by companies and foundations, which strives to consult, link and promote in the areas of education, science and innovation).

The “Stifterverband” honours small, innovative university projects every month and determines the annual winner by an online vote. The “Hochschulperle” aims to enhance the public visibility of exemplary projects.

In October 2010, 7.900 new students started their studies at the TU Dresden.  In total, 36.000 students are enrolled at the TU Dresden.

2011

On 2^rd March, the “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft” (DFG, German Research Foundation) and the “Wissenschaftsrat” (German Council of Science and Humanities) decided that the TU Dresden has cleared the first hurdle of the excellence competition and is now permitted to submit the complete application package for its Institutional Strategy as well as for the Cluster of Excellence (cfaed – Center of Advancing Electronics Dresden).

Professor Karl Leo, Head of the Institute of Applied Physics and Professor for Opto-Electronics at TU Dresden, is awarded the German Future Award together with Dr Jan Blochwitz-Nimoth (Novaled AG) and Dr Martin Pfeiffer (Heliatek GmbH). This prize honours their cutting-edge research work in the field of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Already in 2002, Professor Leo had received the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize.

2012

With the introduction of an SAP system at TU Dresden in January 2012, the IT landscape undergoes a fundamental transformation towards a highly integrated IT application.

In February 2012, the Welcome Center for international guest scientists is established at TU Dresden.

On 15^th June 2012, the TU Dresden has been awarded the title of “University of Excellence” as part of the Excellence Initiative Programme launched by the German federal and state governments, for its Institutional Strategy, the Cluster of Excellence “cfaed – Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden” and the two renewal proposals from the first application round.

2013

On 1 January 2013, the International Institute (IHI) Zittau is integrated into TU Dresden by decision of the Saxon Landtag. At that time, approximately 200 German and 100 international students are studying at IHI Zittau.

For the first time worldwide, a patient with type 1 diabetes is implanted an artificial pancreas system at the Dresden University Hospital (Prof. Stefan Bornstein, Dr Barbara Ludwig). The operation is considered a milestone in medicine.

With the symbolic activation of the proton accelerator (cyclotron) on 17 September 2013, Federal Minister of Education and Research, Prof. Johanna Wanka, and Saxon Prime Minister Stanislaw Tillich, inaugurate the new domicile of the "National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology - OncoRay" on the Dresden campus of University Medicine. About 150 doctors and scientists are to work on radiation therapy of the future in the new building, which is completed ahead of schedule. Supporting institutions of "OncoRay" are the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, the eponymous TU Dresden Faculty of Medicine and the Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). In the worldwide unique research and development platform, the use of protons for careful cancer therapy is being further developed in a patient-friendly way beyond commercial obligations in the coming years.

On 2 December 2013, the Werner Hartmann building in Nöthnitzer Straße is inaugurated after a two-year construction period. The Technical Centre is a facility for research works in micro- and nano-electronics and belongs to the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

In November, the first Diversity Days take place at TU Dresden. The focus is on the variety of cultures at the university.

2015

On 13 May 2015, the TU Dresden Senate re-elects Prof. Hans Müller-Steinhagen Rector of TU Dresden for the term 2015-2020. The first ones to congratulate are Election Supervisor Prof. Hans-Ulrich Wittchen and Prof. Klaus Raps, Deputy Chairman of the TU Dresden University Council.

On 13 May 2015, the new high-performance computer HRSK II is put into operation and the Lehmann Computing Centre, which is designed according to the latest standards, is opened. The new supercomputer with approximately 43,000 CPU cores and a peak performance of over 1.5 quadrillion operations per second replaces the HPC systems, which had so far been used at the TU Dresden Centre for Information Services and High Performance Computing (ZIH). The new computing centre is characterised by energy efficiency, and thus cost efficiency. The hot water cooling of the HRSK-II alone saves more than EUR 250,000 of operating expenses per year through the renouncement of refrigerating machines. Additional savings arise from the subsequent use of computer waste heat in surrounding buildings.

As of 4 August 2015, the TUD sports facilities at Nöthnitzer Straße are being vacated. Starting from September 2015 until mid-May, they are used as a first reception facility for refugees.

In the ranking of the German Research Foundation, TU Dresden ranks among the top ten for the first time.

2016

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) has decided to set up a software institute in Dresden. It is to be embedded in the Lehmann Centre, a central scientific institution of TU Dresden. The aim of the new Dresden institute is the strategic platform research and development in order to support the virtual system ability of the German aviation sector in the areas of hardware, software and application systems. Emphasis is put on research for innovative technologies during the application-related implementation in the fields of production engineering and robotics, systems and simulation as well as virtual reality.

On 30 November 2016, TUD professors Manfred Curbach, Chokri Cherif and Peter Offermann win the German Future Award endowed with EUR 250,000. The three researchers developed the new composite material carbon concrete, containing carbon as reinforcement instead of steel.

On 19 December 2016, the State Government of Saxony and the 14 state universities sign a grant agreement. Thus, a stable foundation and an unusually long-term financing framework for Saxon universities until the end of 2024 are created. For universities, the grant agreement with a total volume of over EUR 6.5 billion is a reliable basis for financial planning security, and it increases their resources as well as their scopes for action. This ensures, among other things, the financing of 9,034 staff positions at the universities. In addition, the renouncement of the planned cutback of 754 posts from 2017 on is agreed upon.

2017

On 23rd January 2017, the new building of the Institute of Applied Physics was inaugurated.  It will be known as the “Hermann-Krone-Bau”.  Researchers from the Dresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP) and the Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed) will move into the new 29.45 million Euro building.

On 3 April 2017, .Rector Prof Hans Müller-Steinhagen has launched TUD’s new application for the Federal and State Excellence Strategy by handing over eight draft proposals in the “Clusters of Excellence” funding line to Saxon Prime Minister Stanislaw Tillich (on the right) and to Saxon State Minister for Science and the Arts, Dr Eva-Maria Stange (on the left)

As of 1 October 2017, the existing departments of the School of Science, namely Biology, Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology, are converted into faculties. TU Dresden now has a total of 18 faculties.

2018

On 27th September 2018, the German Research Foundation (DFG) approved three of a total of six Clusters of Excellence within the framework of the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state government. TU Dresden thus remains in the competition for the University of Excellence title.  

The following clusters were approved:
- PoL: Physics of Life (Prof. Stephan Grill)
- CeTI: Centre for Tactile Internet (Prof. Frank Fitzek)
- ct.qmat: Complexity and Topology in Quantum Materials (Prof. Matthias Vojta)

The new Clusters of Excellence will be funded from 1st January 2019 for a period of seven years.

On 16th November 2018, Saxony's Minister of Finance, Dr. Matthias Haß, handed over the keys for the new building of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the B CUBE Center for Innovation Competence (ZIK) to the Chairman of the DZNE board, Prof. Pierluigi Nicotera, and the Rector of TU Dresden, Prof. Hans Müller-Steinhagen. The construction began in October 2015 with costs amounting to approximately 42 million euro.

On 23rd November 2018, the renovated Heinz-Schönfeld lecture hall was handed over to TUD. With its 481 seats, it is one of the largest lecture halls of TU Dresden. Construction began in March 2016 with costs totalling 8 million euro. The auditorium building forms the southernmost part of the Barkhausen building complex.

In November, TU Dresden was successful in the DFG funding decision for Collaborative Research Centres (CRC). The establishment of the CRC/TR 248 "Fundamentals of Comprehensible Software Systems" in the field of computer science and the continuation of the CRC 1143 "Correlated Magnetism: From Frustration to Topology" in the field of solid state physics were approved.

In time for the deadline of 10th December 2018, TU Dresden submitted its application for the University of Excellence title to the German Council of Science and Humanities in Cologne. At the same time, the "OUR UNI" campaign was launched, which will accompany the application phase up to the decision on 19th July 2019.

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