As a comparatively young university, the JKU was established nearly 60 years ago, making it all the more impressive to witness its stellar accomplishments over these past six decades. Today, just under 4,000 employees and approximately 25,000 students work and study at the JKU. Their intellectual 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 brings historical and contemporary aspects together 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 established as a JKU spin-off. Since its inception, the Softwarepark has grown exponentially and today, 1,050 experts in the field of computer sciences work at one of the 11 research facilities, or at one of the 70 companies located at the park.

The JKU works  closely with company partners including 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 Linz Institute of Technology (LIT) opens its doors at the JKU. 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.

Established 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 educating tomorrow's teachers.

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 in line with one of Kurt Rothschild's guidling principles in that "business should serve the 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. Unique performances and presentations at the JKU Circus of Knowledge are a compelling fusion of art, academia, and science coming together to support community outreach and science communication.

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

LIFT_C - the Linz Institute for Transformative Change, is launched as a unique university-wide institute that supports interdisciplinary education and research pertaining to “transformation”.

The Johannes Kepler University Linz's Faculty of Medicine commemorated its 10th anniversary in September 2024 by hosting a grand celebration at the MED Campus.

Grand opening of the House of Schools I: The new building located on the south-western section of campus is officially open and home to the JKU Business School.