The award honors persons, who have performed a great service to the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. In his laudation, Hans-Jörg Bullinger especially appreciated Eckhard Beyer`s efforts to advance the Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik and to integrate it into the scientific and economic community. Eckhard Beyer initiated and shaped the IWS project centers in Michigan (USA) and Wroclaw (Poland), centers, which have decisively contributed to the international prominence and reputation of the IWS.

Furthermore, Hans-Jörg Bullinger emphasized the close and fruitful cooperation between the IWS and the University of Technology Dresden. Being the executive director of the IWS and of the Institute of Laser and Surface Technology at the university, Eckhard Beyer advanced the cooperation between the two institutions to a great deal. Under his leadership the two research institutes have successfully developed renowned research results in the field of laser- and surface technology.

Eckhard Beyer’s insistent work for the close networking activities between extramural research organizations and the TU Dresden within the program DRESDEN-concept is particularly noteworthy. He decisively shaped the Dresden Innovation Center Energy Efficiency DIZE^eff. Within this alliance the basic research, performed at the TU Dresden, is uniquely combined with the excellent innovative competencies of the Dresden Fraunhofer institutes. The center is regarded as an essentially supporting feature of the DRESDEN-concept.

Vita:
Eckhard Beyer worked at the Fraunhofer Institut für Lasertechnik, Aachen from 1985-1996. Since 1997 he has been heading the IWS. From 2003-2009 he was the speaker of the Fraunhofer alliance “Surface and Photonics VOP”.

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