The executive board function entrusted to Prof. Rosenfeld is responsible for systematically developing the transfer of research results from science to industry. Model cross-institute projects, the central commercialization of IP, more spin-off companies, and a wider range of training programs for industry are to help make this possible.
Prof. Heinz Jörg Fuhrmann, Chairman of the Fraunhofer Senate, described the appointment as follows: “In Georg Rosenfeld we have been able to appoint someone who is an established expert in the German and European scientific community and who also has a wealth of experience in the Fraunhofer environment. He is ideally qualified to unlock the potential for technology transfer and build up strategic projects in key technologies.”
Fraunhofer President Professor Reimund Neugebauer said about the outcome of the election: “I am very much looking forward to continuing my close collaboration with Georg Rosenfeld in his new role. His department will be pivotal in strengthening Fraunhofer for the future and establishing it firmly as a strategic, flexible and first-rate research partner for industry in Germany and Europe.”
Prof. Rosenfeld himself says: “It gives me great pleasure to have been elected, and I am grateful for the trust of our Senate. I want to help further strengthen the position of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Germany and Europe as an organization that sets the benchmark in bringing research results to industry.” The Senate of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft was unanimous in its decision to appoint him.
Prof. Rosenfeld has held various management positions within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft over the past 16 years, most recently as Director of Research. In this position, one of his tasks was to steer the strategic direction of the Fraunhofer research portfolio. He was also President of Fraunhofer USA, and he is on the Supervisory Board of the international subsidiaries Fraunhofer Austria and Portugal. Prof. Rosenfeld holds a PhD in physics as well as a habilitation in physical chemistry. Before joining Fraunhofer he worked at the Jülich Research Center and at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.