The JKU has been around for 50 years, making it a comparatively young university. That makes its development over the past five decades all the more remarkable. Today, the university employs over 2,700 people.  Over 20,000 students are currently enrolled in an academic degree program at the JKU. Their drive, curiosity, and creativity align with those of the university's namesake, Johannes Kepler, who lived and worked in Linz between 1612 and 1627. The JKU combines the past and the present and, as Upper Austria's largest institution of research and education, the university continues to forge ahead and shape the future.

The University of Social and Economic Sciences officially opened on October 8. Thousands gathered at the main square in Linz to witness the keys being ceremonially handed to the university's first Rector, Ludwig Fröhler.

The Faculty of Engineering & Natural Sciences opens its doors and offers, among other degrees, Austria's first academic degree program in Computer Sciences.

The university is officially re-named Johannes Kepler University Linz.  The Faculty of Law is established during the same year.

The TNF building, one of the university's landmarks, was partially commissioned and features a total area of 17,084 m². The grand opening ceremony took place in 1978.

Student enrollment at the JKU exceeds 10,000 at the beginning of the Winter Semester.

The JKU Softwarepark Hagenberg is founded as a JKU spin-off. Since its inception, the Softwarepark has grown and today, 1,050 experts in the field of computer sciences work at one of the 11 research institutes or at one of the 70 companies located at the park.

The JKU collaborates closely with companies such as the voestalpine and other industrial partners, resulting in becoming the world's first university to offer an academic degree program in Mechatronics.

The classroom is your living room: Europe's first online multi-media Diploma degree program in Law kicks off.

Going Online: The JKU is the first university in Austria to go wireless and offer unlimited internet access.

Another Linz landmark opens its doors: the JKU Science Park. A grand opening celebration was held for Building 1.  Buildings 2 and 3 soon followed and are now in operation.

Medical physicians "made in Upper Austria" - the Faculty of Medicine opens its doors. In cooperation with the Medical University of Graz, the JKU is Austria's first university to offer a medical degree program following a Bachelor's/Master's system.

Student enrollment at the JKU exceeds 20,000, making the JKU Austria's sixth largest university.

The JKU establishes the Linz Institute of Technology (LIT). The Linz Institute of Technology, or LIT for short, pools the JKU's deep-rooted heritage of the art of engineering with expertise in other research areas in an effort keep with long-standing traditions yet move toward the future.

As part of the plans to lay the groundwork for the JKU's Faculty of Medicine, the Linz General Hospital, the Linz State Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and the Wagner-Jauregg Provincial Neuropsychiatric Clinic merged to become the Kepler University Hospital. With over 1,830 beds, the Kepler University Hospital is Austria's second largest hospital and boasts an annual budget of approximately 500 million euros.

Founded in 2016, the Linz School of Education (SoE) pools the JKU's commitment to pedagogical education across faculties, particularly in the fields of educational research and didactics in mathematics, computer science, and life sciences (STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). The JKU's program is modern and interdisciplinary, focused on training tomorrow's educators.

The Business School is launched. Anchored locally but with an international direction and focus, the School will be internationally accredited in the medium term. Students at the JKU Business School are educated to meet today's challenges that include digital, social and ecological transformations.

The LIT OIC, along with the OIC Factory, opened its doors. The pilot factory, better known as the LIT Factory, focuses on, for example, sustainable polymers and the circular economy.

The JKU's new academic degree program, Artificial Intelligence, is launched. As one of the first AI degree programs in Europe, the goal is to strengthen this enormously important field of research.

Together with the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, the joint project "Innovation through Universitas" kicks off, bringing art and science together to open up new perspectives and approaches to address current issues.

The Kurt Rothschild School of Economics and Statistics is established, following one of Kurt Rothschild's guidling principles in that "business should serve people".

The JKU MED Campus and JKU medSPACE open and apply modern methods to teach anatomy in 3D and with 8K.

The Circus of Knowledge opens its doors and kicks off its premiere season. The Circus bringing art, research, and entertainment together to communicate science and research in a very special way.

Grand opening to celebrate the new Kepler Hall, Learning Center, Circus of Knowledge, and Science Park buildings 4 and 5. The contemporary buildings and spaces give JKU employees and students ideal workspaces to learn and conduct research.