Academic, graduate financial assistance, innovation: Max-von-Laue Institute of Ceramic Materials officially opened

For the Rhineland-Palatinate Minister for Academic Affairs and Health, Clemens Hoch, the festive launch of the Research Training Group is confirmation of successful cross-university cooperation in research and development between three institutions: Koblenz University of Applied Sciences, the University of Koblenz and the Research Institute for Glass and Ceramics in Höhr-Grenzhausen (FGK). "As a state government, we are focussing on innovation impulses in promising fields. At this point, I would like to mention not only biotechnology and artificial intelligence, but also the cutting-edge technology areas such as those you are pursuing in your initiative in the field of ceramic materials," the Minister continued in his speech. He then named the promotion of cooperation in research, development and innovation as one of the state government's fundamental concerns.

The Management Board, consisting of Prof. Dr rer. nat. Dr h.c. Peter Quirmbach from the University of Koblenz, Prof. rer. nat. Peter Quirmbach from the University of Koblenz, Prof. rer. nat. Olaf Krause and Prof. rer. nat. Jan Werner from the University of Koblenz as well as Dr Kathrin Ruhl and Jewgenia Weißhaar from the University of Koblenz, presented how these areas can be successfully interlinked in an interview: The already tried and tested structure of CerMaX allows for interdisciplinary supervision of doctoral students, application-oriented research projects, international networking and industrial partnerships at a high scientific level. The interviewees' statements showed that the new research training group is very well positioned to meet future challenges in academia and society.

Dr Nadja Kratz, Managing Director of the FGK, agrees: "Raw materials, ceramic materials and glass are central building blocks of the green and digital transformation. Materials engineering provides key technologies for the challenges of our time - from digitalisation and decarbonisation to health, resource efficiency and environmental protection. It is precisely these future issues that are the focus of our research in the CerMaX research group.

Sabine Mesletzky, Managing Director of the Rhineland-Palatinate Innovation Agency, also referred to this aspect by describing the Research Training Group as a catalyst for ceramic research. Such projects are needed to further develop Rhineland-Palatinate into a state of innovation.

The varied evening programme also made room for memories of the origins of CerMaX, which Prof. Dr Stefan Wehner, himself a scientist involved at the time, described in his welcoming address. He said it was wonderful to see that things that were only thought of by a few in the noughties, such as the establishment of materials science in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate via the "Ceramic Science and Engineering" study programme, the first cooperative programme between a university and a university in Rhineland-Palatinate, and the state-funded CerMaProS research college, were now becoming a reality as the CerMaX Research Training Group. "CerMaX shows young scientists a way to become urgently needed specialists and to pursue a career in industry and academia," said a delighted Prof Dr Stefan Wehner, President of the University of Koblenz.

Prof. Dr Karl Stoffel, President of Koblenz University of Applied Sciences, emphasised the successful cooperation between the university and the university. "The founding of this Graduate Centre once again clearly shows how well our two institutions, the university and the university of applied sciences, work together," Stoffel emphasised, adding: "I am delighted that we are continuing on this successful path together and wish CerMaX many more interesting events like today's and all the best for the future."

The entertaining stage programme was moderated by Dr Philipp Gramlich from NaturalScience.Careers. and enriched by pieces composed by the young pianist Santana Reinhardt. Afterwards, the guests had the opportunity to round off the evening at the poster exhibition of the participating doctoral students.

The event was made possible by: The Freundeskreis der Universität Koblenz in Koblenz e.V., the Förderverein der Hochschule und der Fachschulen für Keramik in Höhr-Grenzhausen e.V., the Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft am Mittelrhein mbH, the Wirtschafts- und Wissenschaftsallianz Region Koblenz e.V., the CZS MINT-Forum für interdisciplinary dialogue of the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung and by Zschimmer & Schwarz.

Further images can be found at

https://cloud.uni-koblenz.de/s/YfZLRe8bYig8zNg

Image rights: CerMaX / Philip Brüderle