Biography:

Since January 2021, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Ruckdäschel has been a full professor of Polymer Engineering at the University of Bayreuth and a member of several institutes, including the Bavarian Polymer Institute. He has also served as CEO of Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH since 2022, focusing on material development and industrial technology transfer. Before his academic career, Ruckdäschel spent 13 years at BASF, leading digital strategy for Performance Materials and managing global teams in polymer research, wind energy, and plastic additives. He holds degrees in materials science, digital leadership, data science, and business model innovation. His research focuses on polymers, composites, additive manufacturing, and recycling, with an emphasis on digitalization and sustainability. Ruckdäschel has numerous patents, publications, and oversees around 100 people, including 35 PhD students.

About Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH (NMB):

Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH (NMB) and University of Bayreuth provide R&D for innovative materials and processes for industrial application. We provide sustainable, application-oriented solutions in order to optimize existing materials and production processes. NMB is an independent, non-academic research institution for the development of novel material variants and associated energy-efficient processing methods in the field of lightweight construction for polymers, metals and composites.