Heidelberg is home to the oldest university in Germany which was distinguished again, in June 2012, as an elite university. This distinction presented to Heidelberg University by the ‘Excellence Initiative’ of the Federal and Laender governments confirms Heidelberg’s leading position as city of science. Numerous other universities and research institutions are also based in Heidelberg:

• The Hochschule für Jüdische Studien (University of Jewish Studies) was founded in Heidelberg in 1979. It is aimed at researching and studying Jewish culture, history and religion in Germany.
• The Pädagogische Hochschule Heidelberg (University of Education) was established in 1904 and since then has developed into a modern academic institution with over 4,000 students.
• SRH Hochschule Heidelberg (SRH University Heidelberg) offers a wide variety of practical courses of studies, ranging from architecture to commercial law.
• Numerous international major research institutions such as the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), four Max Planck Institutes (see research institutes on the navigation list on the left) as well as the Academy of Sciences (Akademie der Wissenschaften) are based in Heidelberg.
  

Heidelberg is a popular location for research-related business. Since its establishment in 1984, the Heidelberg Technology Park at Neuenheimer Feld has constantly been enlarged to meet the demands of setting-up and relocating companies. It is one of the most important biotechnology sites in Germany and a leader worldwide. Most Heidelberg research companies are associated members of the Heidelberg Technology Park. 

Ten Nobel Prizes for professors of Heidelberg University, the most recent awarded in 2008 to Professor Dr. zur Hausen, and current success in competitions and rankings demonstrate the consistently high level of sciences in Heidelberg. The city also awards prizes for outstanding research, such as the Klaus Tschira Award or Lautenschläger Research Award.

Heidelberg’s vision for the still young knowledge society is: Heidelberg Knowledge-Creating City. To turn this vision into reality, the Heidelberg City Council agreed in December 2011 to launch an International Building Exhibition (IBA) under the motto ‘Knowledge Creates the City’.