We are pleased to announce the scientific conference celebrating the 200th anniversary of KIT. The conference is dedicated to “Urban Transformation” and aims at “Connecting Urban Sustainability Labs” worldwide with each other and with/to research approaches on relevant thematic fields. The conference will take place in Karlsruhe from 15th - 17th October 2025.

The urgent need for a “Great Transformation” (WBGU) towards sustainable futures of our economies and lifestyles calls for massive change in urban structures, processes and cultures. Climate protection and adaptation, circular economy, energy transition, human health, social cohesion, inter- and intragenerational justice are all reflected in cities.

Kofi Annan’s diagnosis “The future of humanity lies in cities” could therefore be complemented “…and will be decided in cities”. For this, we see cities as an expression of the Anthropocene, as large human settlements with a nowadays global metabolism.

Worldwide urban transition labs, sustainability labs, real-world labs and other labs address urban transformation in a systemic way and in transdisciplinary partnerships of science and society. These labs work on good decisions and solutions for sustainable futures.

With this conference we try to foster experimenting for sustainable transformation within urban labs by bringing urban labs together globally, and by learning from each other labs and from