Holger Ruckdäschel took over the management of Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH at the beginning of 2022. The further development of the research institution will focus on digitalization and sustainability.
Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH is a non-university research institute in Bayreuth that has been working on application-oriented materials and process development since 2000. Its work focuses on plastics, metals and composites as well as additive manufacturing and material-related life cycle assessment. Since then, Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH has successfully established itself as a renowned research partner for industry and a strong cooperation partner in publicly funded cooperation projects.
Professor Holger Ruckdäschel takes over the management from Prof. Dr.-Ing. Volker Altstädt, who is retiring after more than 12 years at the helm of Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH. During his tenure, the research institute was able to record continuous growth with its strategic focus on forward-looking R&D topics.
The new management team is expected to provide positive impetus for the further development of Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH. The focus will be on digitalization and sustainability as well as the development of new fields of technology and applications. This opens up new perspectives for the successful continuation of innovation transfer from research to industry.
Holger Ruckdäschel received his doctorate in 2008 after studying materials science at the University of Bayreuth. He then worked at BASF for 13 years, most recently heading the digital strategy of the Plastics Division. His other positions at BASF include polymer research and leading global functions in wind energy research and plastics additives. In recent years, he and his team have also driven digital innovations and new business models for the plastics industry.
Since the beginning of 2021, the 42-year-old has headed the Chair of Polymeric Materials at the University of Bayreuth. His research work focuses on application orientation, digitalization and sustainability. His interdisciplinary team pursues the strategy of a holistic understanding of the processing, structure and properties of polymer materials.
