On 13 December 1810 Karolinska Institutet was founded by King Karl XIII. Medicine has since developed in ways that few could have imagined, and the university has contributed to several major breakthroughs. But 2010 is more than just a year to celebrate our history, it is also an opportunity to look to the future. 200 years are just the beginning...

Some of the key people and events in our history.

Jöns Jacob Berzelius, the father of Swedish chemistry, is a key figure in the founding of Karolinska Institutet. As one of the university’s first professors, he paves the way for its scientific orientation. Berzelius’ best-known contribution to science is his system of letters to denote the elements.

In 1816 Anders Johan Hagströmer is appointed Karolinska Institutet’s first inspector, a post equivalent to today’s president. In his day Hagströmer was a leading doctor and scientist who tirelessly combined practical medical care with scientific research — a tradition we proudly carry on today.

In 1895 Alfred Nobel entrusts Karolinska Institutet in his will with the task of deciding who should receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. This has subsequently provided KI with a broad network of contacts in the field of medical research. Over the years five researchers from Karolinska Institutet have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

In 1937 Nanna Svartz is appointed professor at Karolinska Institutet, and becomes Sweden’s first state- employed female professor.

Eight Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine have gone to Swedish researchers to date, five of whom hailed from Karolinska Institutet.

1955 Hugo Theorell is the first KI researcher to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. It is awarded for producing a pure form of myoglobin, a protein important for supplying the muscles with oxygen.

1967 Ragnar Granit is the second KI researcher to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. It is awarded for his discoveries concerning retinal function and optical nerve cells’ response to light stimuli, colour and frequency.

1970 Ulf von Euler is the third KI researcher to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. It is awarded for the identification and study of noradrenaline, the key neurotransmitter in the sympathetic nervous system.

1982 Sune Bergström and Bengt Samuelsson become the fourth and fifth KI researchers to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. It is awarded for their discovery of prostaglandins which, among other things, play a key role in controlling blood pressure and blood vessel activity.

Today: Karolinska Institutet ranks as one of the world’s leading medical universities. Karolinska Institutet offers the broadest range of education in medicine and health sciences in Sweden. Karolinska Institutet accounts for 40 per cent of all medical research in higher education in Sweden.

His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf is the patron of the bicentenary.

Welcome to a busy bicentenary year During the bicentenary year we will be celebrating the ideas, skills and people behind this successful university through TV programmes, exhibitions, scientific symposia and books.

Scientific and popular lectures Throughout the year there will be scientific conferences, lectures and symposia for the international scientific community, as well as less technical lectures for the general public. The popular science lectures will be broadcast on TV channel Kunskapskanalen.

The Art of Medicine The Art of Medicine exhibition will open its doors at Waldemarsudde in Stockholm in May. Valuable medical books and images right through from mediaeval times to Lennart Nilsson will be on display. It will offer an exciting journey through the mysteries of the human body with images from one of the world's finest medical history libraries and book museums, the Hagströmer Library at Karolinska Institutet. The exhibition will run until 29 August.

KI teaches children about research To stimulate children's interest in medicine, Karolinska Institutet will be working with children's magazine Kamratposten and its website during the bicentenary year. The website will give kids aged 7-14 a chance to conduct "research" together with postgraduate students and young researchers from KI. Another way of encouraging young people's interest in medicine is the medical book that KI has produced for the popular TV programme Wild Kids.

Commemorative postage stamps The Swedish post office will be celebrating the bicentenary by issuing two special stamps on 13 May. The stamps show two chemical elements, silicon and selenium, discovered by one of KI's founders Jöns Jacob Berzelius and photographed by Lennart Nilsson, another big KI name.

Open Stage and historical books Students, staff and alumni will also be able to enjoy an Open Stage at KI, and everyone will have an opportunity to purchase commemorative products in the promotional store as well as a variety of books being published on KI's history. A photo book will be distributed to all students and employees.

Birthday celebrations on 13 December KI's birthday on 13 December will see students rounding off the bicentenary with a day of inspiration for the future. Successful KI alumni will be attending to inspire today's undergraduates and postgraduates. In other words, the baton will be passed to today's students – on the day when, 200 years ago, King Karl XIII signed the document which marked the beginning of Karolinska Institutet.

Detailed information about what's happening during the bicentenary year can be found in the jubilee diary at ki.se