New chair of the Fraunhofer Group for Materials and Components - MATERIALS
The Fraunhofer Group for Materials and Components - MATERIALS has a new chairman: Professor Peter Gumbsch takes over the office with immediate effect.
2 October 2019
Peter Gumbsch is the new chairman of the Fraunhofer Group for Materials and Components - MATERIALS (Image: Stock Müller)
The Fraunhofer Group for Materials and Components - MATERIALS has a new chairman: Professor Peter Gumbsch, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM, takes office today. Professor Bernd Mayer, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM, will continue in his position as Deputy Chairman.
In the Fraunhofer Group for Materials and Components - MATERIALS bundle the 16 materials science orientated institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft their competences. They cover the entire value chain, from the development of new materials and the improvement of existing materials to manufacturing processes on a quasi-industrial scale and the characterisation of material properties through to the evaluation of the application behaviour of components and systems. The network thus provides partners from industry and the public sector with an excellent R&D network. The approximately 2,200 researchers in the network contribute their expertise primarily in the fields of energy & environment, mobility, health, mechanical & plant engineering, construction & housing, microsystems technology and safety.
Professor Peter Gumbsch, Director of the Fraunhofer IWM in Freiburg since 2001, was unanimously elected by the group members with effect from 1 October 2019. as the new Chairman of the Fraunhofer MATERIALS Alliance and appointed by the Fraunhofer Senate for a three-year term of office. Professor Bernd Mayer, one of the two institute directors of Fraunhofer IFAM in Bremen and Deputy Chairman of the Group since 1 October 2018, will continue in office.
Peter Gumbsch steps down as Chairman of the Association the successor to Professor Ralf B. Wehrspohn who has steered the fortunes of the Group as Chairman since 1 October 2018. Ralf Wehrspohn, previously also Head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems (IMWS) in Halle (Saale), was appointed to the Fraunhofer Executive Board for Technology Marketing and Business Models with effect from 1 October 2019. Peter Gumbsch is also Member of the main commission of the Scientific and Technical Council of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and Chairman of the Scientific Commission of the German Science Council.
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In their roles as group chairmen, Gumbsch and Mayer give high priority to the continuation of the strategy process initiated in the Fraunhofer MATERIALS Group. As part of the strategy process Various initiatives launched at association level and driven forward with corresponding measures, such as initiatives for additive manufacturing, lightweight system construction, digitalisation, biointelligent materials and the energy transition.
The Fraunhofer MATERIALS Alliance, for example, is driving digitalisation through the concept and the initiative of the same name „Materials Data Space® (MDS)“ ahead. The overarching goal is to, Making materials and material-intensive value chains Industry 4.0-capable, This enables shorter development times, learning production processes and new business models. The digitalisation of materials also opens up enormous potential for material and production efficiency, the sustainable use of resources and recycling.
Prof Mayer (Image: Solar Consulting GmbH)
„The materials community is facing a series of upheavals. Digitalisation will inexorably pave its way. The Boundaries between manufacturing technology issues and material issues are blurring increasingly. We need to help shape this. Only an integral and product life cycle-orientated approach will help to substantial competitive advantages. I think that the two disciplines of materials science and engineering and production engineering need to redefine and reposition themselves to some extent,“ explains Peter Gumbsch. He continues: „Many technical solutions that contribute to tackling global issues such as energy, mobility or climate change are systemic in nature and the following applies to them 'Powered by Materials'. As materials and components institutes, we must make a confident effort to emphasise the systemic contribution of our work. For me as the new chairman of the alliance, all of these topics harbour enormous scope for creativity. I look forward to working together with my colleagues from the partner institutes to fulfil them.“
Professor Bernd Mayer emphasises the Importance of cooperation between strong players within the network. Thanks to the wide range of expertise, the enormous Challenges in materials science and materials engineering can be tackled in a targeted manner. The research results benefit customers and partners of the network through transfer services.
