acatech selects five new members from the University of Stuttgart

“I congratulate Nejila Parspour, Oliver Riedel, Michael Saliba, Michael Weyrich, and Bettina Lotsch on their induction into the renowned National Academy of Science and Engineering,” says Prof. Peter Middendorf, Rector at the University of Stuttgart. “We are proud that they will bring their scientific expertise to acatech’s voluntary, public-interest, and independent advisory work, helping to further strengthen Germany’s position as a technology hub and enhance its innovative capacity,” says Middendorf. The five scientists exemplify not only excellent research but also its effective application in practice.

How can batteries be charged without having to stay connected to the power grid for hours via a cable? And how can drive systems be made more efficient and resource-friendly? Professor Nejila Parspour , Director of the Institute of Electrical Energy Conversion (IEW)  at the University of Stuttgart, focuses on these questions in her research. With a doctorate in electrical engineering, she focuses not only on electromobility but also on robotics, wind energy, and medical technology. Parspour is a member of the Research Directorate of the Innovation Campus for Future Mobility (ICM). She heads the Steinbeis Consulting Center for Electromobility and Drive Technology and participates in the Strategic Dialogue on the Automotive Industry in Baden-Württemberg. Highlights of her scientific career include positions at the Technical University of Berlin, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Bremen. For her achievements, she has received, among others, the Technology Award of the State of Bremen and the “Übermorgenmacher” award from the State of Baden-Württemberg.

How can the development of new products and production processes be made more efficient and reliable using digital technologies? This question has driven Professor Oliver Riedel , co-director of the Institute for Control Engineering of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Units (ISW) at the University of Stuttgart, for many years. In this work, the trained cyberneticist and doctoral engineer integrates product development, production control, and factory planning. Riedel is also the director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering (IAO). To implement digital technologies, he has led numerous projects for major international companies in the automotive and energy sectors, including Volkswagen AG and Silicon Graphics Inc. In addition, Riedel serves as chairman of the VDI regional association Baden-Württemberg and is a member of the Scientific Society for Production Engineering (WGP) and the Scientific Society for Product Development (WiGeP).

Sustainable solar cells with a minimal CO₂ footprint: This is the focus of Professor Michael Saliba’s research, head of the Institute for Photovoltaics (ipv) at the University of Stuttgart. His research focuses on perovskites, a class of materials with promising properties that he aims to transition from the laboratory to industrial production. As a Doctor of Physics and materials scientist, he is also affiliated with the Jülich Research Center and is a co-founder of the start-up Perosol. Highlights of his scientific career include appointments at Princeton University, the Technical University of Darmstadt, the University of Fribourg, Stanford University, the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Cornell University, and the University of Oxford. He has received numerous awards, including the Helmholtz High Impact Award, the MIT Technology Review TR-35 Prize, an ERC Starting Grant, the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize from the German Research Foundation (DFG), and the Stuart R. Wenham Young Professional Award.

The product and production automation of the future requires agile systems that operate intelligently and autonomously, perform novel functions, and adapt as needed. Research conducted by Professor Michael Weyrich, head of the Institute of Industrial Automation and Software Engineering  (IAS) at the University of Stuttgart, ensures that these systems perform their functions safely and reliably. The trained electrical engineer, doctoral mechatronics specialist, and expert in cyber-physical systems spent ten years in industry, including positions at what is now Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Siemens AG. Key stages of his scientific career include RWTH Aachen, the University of Siegen, Ruhr University Bochum, and the University of Westminster. Weyrich serves on the board of the Society for Measurement and Automation Technology at VDI/VDE, is a review board member of the German Research Foundation (DFG), and acts as a consultant for, among others, the European Commission.

Innovative materials that lay the foundation for new technologies in sustainable energy conversion and storage: This is the focus of Professor Bettina Valeska Lotsch’s research, director at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research (MPI-FKF) and honorary professor at the University of Stuttgart. Among other achievements, she developed new light-storage concepts such as solar batteries and “photocatalysis in the dark,” where photocatalysts release solar fuels such as hydrogen with a time delay in the dark, helping to balance the fluctuating availability of sunlight. An expert in solid-state chemistry, she has received numerous awards, including the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, an ERC Starting Grant, and the EU 40 Materials Prize. Her scientific career has taken her to the University of Toronto and LMU Munich, where she teaches as an honorary professor. Lotsch is a member of, among others, the University Council of the University of Stuttgart, the Perspectives Commission of the Max Planck Society, the advisory board of Quantum^BW, and the Scientific Advisory Board of the Deutsches Museum.

The National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) contributes expert knowledge to political and societal decision-making processes on behalf of the federal government and its host state, Bavaria. The academy carries out its advisory role independently, based on scientific evidence, and with a focus on the public good. Outstanding scientists are the driving force behind acatech’s work. Members of acatech are admitted to the academy based on their scientific achievements and professional reputation. They come from the fields of engineering and the natural sciences, medicine, as well as the humanities and social sciences. The more than 650 current acatech members collaborate on projects with external experts from academia and industry. They also participate in the academy’s topic networks, where specialized areas of engineering and overarching issues with a technology policy background are discussed.

Acatech Members from the University of Stuttgart
From the University of Stuttgart, the following serve as scientific members of acatech: Prof. Bernd Bertsche (emeritus), Prof. Gerhart Eigenberger (emeritus), Prof. Stefanos Fasoulas, Prof. Rainer Helmig (emeritus), Prof. Cordula Kropp, Prof. Ulrike Kuhlmann, Prof. Katharina Hölzle, Prof. Paul J. (emeritus), Prof. Ernst W. Messerschmid (emeritus), Prof. Hans-Christian Möhring, Prof. Ekkehard Ramm (emeritus), Prof. Ortwin Renn, Prof. Hans-Christian Reuss (emeritus), Prof. Stephan Staudacher, Prof. Karl Stephan (emeritus), Prof. Ralf Takors, Prof. Alfred Voß (emeritus), Prof. Bernhard Weigand, and Prof. Engelbert Westkämper (emeritus). In his role as co-chair of the Alliance of Leading Technical Universities in Germany (TU9), the Rector of the University of Stuttgart, Prof. Peter Middendorf, is a member of the acatech Senate.