Prof. Manfred Renner and Prof. Christian Doetsch are taking on joint roles in charge of the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT from August 2022. Most recently acting as heads of the institute’s Products and Energy divisions respectively, the two renowned scientists have been vital in shaping the direction of the institute. They are taking over from Prof. Eckhard Weidner, who is retiring.
“Efficient processes, sustainable products and technologies that are kind to the environment are the key to achieving sustainable value creation and form the basis for transforming the economy into a circular one. Fraunhofer UMSICHT is playing an active role in shaping this transformation,” says Prof. Reimund Neugebauer, president of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. “Prof. Renner and Prof. Doetsch are highly experienced, and I am delighted that both of them are taking on these institute management positions. Their outstanding expertise has already helped them contribute a great deal to the institute’s success, and it will give them the tools they need to highlight important aspects of achieving an energy-efficient circular economy in the future.”
Prof. Manfred Renner holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and specializes in process engineering and business development. He has been employed in a number of roles at Fraunhofer UMSICHT since 2006, most recently heading up the Products division with 126 employees and a budget of 14.8 million euros.
“I am very grateful that the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and Ruhr Universität Bochum have placed their confidence in me and I’m really looking forward to taking up my new role. It’s especially exciting because of the sustainable technical and design solutions that we’re going to be developing in response to large-scale societal and economic challenges over the coming decades. I intend to use my skills to enhance the institute’s strong position in these areas, working together with Prof. Christian Doetsch and the Fraunhofer UMSICHT team,” said Renner on his appointment.
“I am delighted to be taking up this interdisciplinary role alongside my colleague Prof. Manfred Renner and an outstandingly skilled team. We are currently experiencing a period of far-reaching political and economic change that is bringing our many societal and economic weaknesses into sharp focus. Through responsible research, we want to deliver solutions and offer society sophisticated perspectives from a technological, economic and ecological point of view,” explained Prof. Doetsch.
