Successful autumn event of the InnoMat IWW e.V.

On 6 November 2025, InnoMat IWW e.V. hosted its annual autumn event at the METEOR project house at Chemnitz University of Technology. As usual, numerous members and guests from science and industry accepted the invitation and took the opportunity to discuss the latest developments at the Institute of Materials Science and Engineering (IWW) and to intensify their collaboration.

After the welcome address by the chairman of the association, Prof Thomas Lampke, Prof Guntram Wagner reported on the successes achieved in research, teaching and transfer at the IWW in the past year. In addition to numerous new and interesting projects, a future-oriented expansion of the institute's technical equipment and several awards for IWW scientists, the Executive Board particularly emphasised the association's funding of German scholarships for two students at Chemnitz University of Technology. Supporting young scientists in the field of materials science and engineering is a declared aim of the association.

Prof Bernhard Wielage, who has played a key role in shaping the association through his many years as chairman, stepped down from the board at his own request. The members of the association thanked Prof Wielage for his services to InnoMat IWW e.V. with a hearty round of applause and elected Prof Jonas Hensel, Head of the Welding Technology Chair, as the new second chairman of the association. For many years, Prof Johannes Wilden acted as auditor of the association, for which the association would like to express its sincere thanks. Following his request to be relieved of this task, the General Assembly appointed Dr Daniel Meyer, Managing Director of the German Society for Electroplating and Surface Technology (DGO).

Driving force for materials technology and industry

This was followed by the IWW colloquium, where three exciting presentations provided deeper insights into current research topics and the stages of the speakers' professional careers:

• Prof Lutz Krüger (TU Bergakademie Freiberg) presented the hidden properties of nodular cast iron and its potential for industrial applications.
• Dr Andreas Dietz (Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films, Braunschweig) presented the importance of electrochemical processes for the development of future energy and sustainability concepts.
• Prof Dr Bertram Reinhold (Audi AG, Ingolstadt) shed light on how Saxon materials expertise is being integrated into modern mobility and industrial applications.

These technical impulses not only stimulated intensive discussions, but also emphasised the key role of materials science and materials technology as drivers of innovation in the design of manufacturing processes and products.

Networking and cooperation over dinner

The day ended with a relaxed IWW retreat in the restaurant „Max Louis“. Here, participants had the opportunity to deepen existing contacts, initiate new collaborations and continue the day's ideas in informal discussions. The exchange between science and industry thus remained lively and productive in the evening.

InnoMat IWW e.V. and the institute can look back on a successful day that brought many valuable discussions and new perspectives. We would like to thank all guests for their participation and are already looking forward to the next event in autumn 2026.

25.11.2025 – Events of the professorship ( rico.drehmann@… )