Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences or h_da is a University of Applied Sciences in Darmstadt, Germany. It is the largest applied sciences university in Hesse with about 11,000 students.
h_da is part of the IT cluster Rhine-Main-Neckar, known as the "Silicon Valley of Germany," and ATHENE, the largest IT security research institute in Europe.
History
The university's roots trace back to 1876, when it was part of Technische Universität Darmstadt. It became an independent institution in 1971, focusing on industry-oriented research. This separation led to the creation of similar universities across Germany, strengthening the country's engineering workforce.