The integrator is leaving, writes Fraunhofer IZM press officer Georg Weigelt in today's news: Prof. Klaus-Dieter Lang retired today, September 30. "It's not always true that you should stop when it's at its best," he says. "Research for practical applications is always a good thing, especially in the innovative fields of microelectronics and microsystems technology."
After completing an award-winning dissertation, the electrical engineering graduate went on to establish several centers for microelectronics and microsystems technology. He held the Chair of Nano Interconnect Technologies at TU Berlin, was involved in countless committees and doubled Fraunhofer IZM's economic revenue during his time as Institute Director. He set the course for success early on.
As early as the 1980s, he devoted himself to semiconductor technology, assembly and connection technology, packaging and quality assurance at the Department of Electronics at Humboldt University. During this time, he completed his doctorate and habilitation and was honored with the 'Humboldt Award' for the results of his work. After setting up the 'Micro Joining Technology and Optical Joining Technology' department at the SLV Hannover, he played an active role in shaping the path of the Fraunhofer IZM since its foundation in 1993 and finally became its director in 2010.
Today, he has handed over a world-renowned microelectronics institute on the road to success. Big shoes to fill for potential successors. But he knows this himself, having succeeded the globally respected packaging pioneer Prof. Herbert Reichl in 2010. Prof. Martin Schneider-Ramelow will continue to head Fraunhofer IZM on an interim basis, and Prof. Lang wishes him all the best and every success. The PLUS will report in detail in its next issue.
