New head of Fraunhofer IAP

Press Release /

Professor Alexander Böker has been heading the Fraunhofer-Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam-Golm since February 1, 2015. He will be taking over this position as Professor Hans-Peter Fink, who headed the Institute since 2006, enters retirement in March 2015. Böker is simultaneously appointed to serve as Chair of Polymer Materials and Polymer Technologies at the University of Potsdam.

© DWI
Prof. Alexander Böker is the new director of Fraunhofer IAP.

Alexander Böker served as Chairman of the Department for Macromolecular Materials and Surfaces at RWTH Aachen as well as Deputy Scientific Director of the DWI-Leibnitz Institute for Interactive Materials e.V. During the course of his career in science, the graduate chemist delved into his studies of polymers both in Germany and abroad. The focal points of his work include the structuring of surfaces by means of copolymers and nanoparticle-based techniques, as well as the synthesis of protein/polymer hybrid particles. In addition, he studied self-organization phenomena of nanoparticles and polymers in the electrical field. Fraunhofer president Reimund Neugebauer feels confident: “As Professor Böker – a scientist of international repute – joins the management of Fraunhofer IAP, he will continue to promote the institute’s expertise in polymer research and open up new fields of research endeavor. At the same time, I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to the former executive director Professor Hans-Peter Fink, for his extraordinarily successful work.“

The challenges of applied research at Fraunhofer – taking scientific expertise with implementable technologies and solutions and making them available to business and the economy - are challenges Professor Böker gladly embraces. About his new employer he says: “Fraunhofer IAP possesses expertise in the entire field of polymer applications – such as for high performance fiber optics and lightweight composites, flexible organic solar cells and synthetic corneas for implants. Synthetic polymers are as much a part of the focus as biopolymers made from renewable raw materials. Our goal is to continue to expand the activities in the fields of biotechnology, chemically modified proteins and natural fibers.”

His predecessor Hans-Peter Fink is entering retirement after nine years at the top of Fraunhofer IAP, where he held various management positions since 1992. His research activities concentrated on cellulose materials, biopolymers, films and composites as well as various types of carbon fibers. Fink garnered multiple honors and distinctions for his work in the cellulose field, including with renowned Anselme Payen Award from the Cellulose and Renewable Materials Division of the American Chemical Society ACS.