Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Holger Hanselka to become new President and successor to Reimund Neugebauer

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Holger Hanselka to become the new head of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Photo: KIT

After ongoing criticism of Fraunhofer CEO Reimund Neugebauer, his successor has now been chosen: Holger Hanselka will head the research organization from now on.

The Senate of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft unanimously elected the current President of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) at its meeting in Dresden. Reimund Neugebauer resigned from office.

The decision comes three months after the German Federal Court of Auditors once again found violations of internal and external rules at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. It is about serious violations of the Federal Travel Expenses Act, i.e. expensive hotel accommodation and luxurious food, private trips with company vehicles and generous gifts for board members.

Reimund Neugebauer had not yet reacted to the allegations, although the pressure on him has recently increased. In March, even Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP) called for a new start on the board. Numerous politicians complained that Neugebauer had held on to his office until the end and demanded his immediate resignation.

Hildegard Müller, Chairwoman of the Fraunhofer Senate, said: "Holger Hanselka is the right person for Fraunhofer at the right time in the right office. He is distinguished by his high scientific reputation, his profound knowledge of national and international scientific organizations, his many years of experience in the transformation and further development of scientific institutions as well as in the management of institutions.«

Holger Hanselka has been head of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) for almost ten years. Previously, he was Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability in Darmstadt and from 2006 to 2012 a member of the Executive Committee of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. "Together with the 30,000 employees, I will do my best to expand Fraunhofer's leading position among the world's leading research institutions and to strengthen Fraunhofer's profile," said Hanselka.

At the beginning of his term of office, he cited the development of a modern mission statement and the further internationalization of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as central tasks. This requires innovation, creativity and cosmopolitanism externally and in-depth knowledge, modern corporate governance structures, new forms of cooperation and a powerful, common and trusting mission statement internally, Hanselka said.

Thomas Sattelberger, former state secretary in the Ministry of Education, told SPIEGEL: "Personally, I am very pleased that a painful time for Fraunhofer has come to an end and that hopefully a strategic and cultural restart can now succeed for this renowned organization."

Until Hanselka can take office, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft will be led on an interim basis by Sandra Krey, Member of the Executive Board for Finance and Controlling.

Kha