New evolutionary research center in Kiel: The future of science begins!

New evolutionary research center in Kiel: The future of science begins!

The topping-out ceremony for the new evolution research center at the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel (CAU) took place on March 25, 2025. The Center for Fundamental Research in Translational Evolutionary Biology (CeTEB) is expected to open in 2027 and offers 4,850 square meters of space for around 140 researchers and employees. This important project is being financed with over 68 million euros by the federal government and the state of Schleswig-Holstein GMSH took over the construction management.

The participants in the topping-out ceremony included Finance Minister Silke Schneider, Science Minister Karin Prien and Kiel's Mayor Ulf Kampf. Minister Schneider underlined the importance of the CeTEB for climate protection and research, while Minister Prien announced the planned further research buildings near the CeTEB, including the ARCWorlds research building and a new biology center. The construction project is the first new building in the urban development framework plan for Bremerskamp developed in 2020.

Sustainable and flexible construction concept

The CeTEB will be built in a modular design, which offers researchers flexibility. A central feature of the building is an atrium with a glass roof and an outside staircase that promotes informal exchange between researchers. The environmentally friendly measures include installing a photovoltaic system on the roof and greening the south facade. The CeTEB is aiming for certification according to the rating system for sustainable building (BNB) in order to minimize energy consumption.

Construction work began in January 2023 with the laying of the foundation stone on July 3, 2023. Completion of the research center is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. It will not only serve as a new home for twelve working groups, but will also bring together existing research collaborations with an evolutionary focus, including the DFG graduate school “Translational Evolutionary Research” and the DFG special research center “Origin and Functioning of Metaorganisms”.

Focus on interdisciplinary research alliances

A central goal of the CeTEB is the development of sustainable strategies to solve urgent problems in the areas of medicine, environmental protection and food production. The researchers will investigate evolutionary processes associated with the adaptation of species to environmental changes. The insights of evolutionary biology are actively applied to challenges such as pathogens and pesticide resistance.

The collaboration with the Kiel Evolution Center (KEC) will make a significant contribution to promoting interdisciplinary research. The KEC coordinates the evolutionary biology initiatives in the region and connects partners such as the GEOMAR Helmholtz Center and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology. The CeTEB will create connections with the clusters of excellence “Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation” and “ROOTS” in order to address a wide range of research concerns.

Overall, the CeTEB will play a key role in the further development of evolutionary research in Germany. With its sustainable construction and interdisciplinary focus, it will be a place of innovation and collaboration for scientists from different disciplines seeking solutions to some of the most pressing problems of our time. Promoting sustainable construction is also a goal of the Federal Ministry of Construction, which, through various programs, helps to implement innovative and affordable building concepts in order to meet the increasing demands of an aging society, such as sustainablebuilding.de is explained.