Jörg Steinbach

A contact center for company founders where ideas for new business concepts are forged – the Technische Universität Berlin is increasingly developing into a springboard for young entrepreneurs. “Carrying out research without also consistently taking the needs of business and industry into account, can’t work in the long term“, says Professor Dr.-Ing. Jörg Steinbach.He has been President of the Technische Universität since April 2010 and knows the university as almost nobody else does. He also studied chemistry there.

After completing his studies and doctorate, he worked for Schering AG as a chemical engineer, heading the Plant Security division, but he always stayed in touch with the university. In 1994 he published the academic work qualifying him to become a professor at a German university (Habilitation) at the Technische Universität Berlin and was subsequently appointed Professor in the Department for Industrial Systems Plant Safety and Chemical Process Safety. His work has focused on the safe handling of substances and composites and assessing and evaluating risks in the processing industry, among other things. Professor Steinbach has also carried out research into human behavior in the operation of processing plants. In 1999 he was appointed Dean of the Department, becoming the first Vice President of the Technische Universität Berlin three years later.

No Smoking Chimneys: Just Plenty of High-tech

Jörg Steinbach has been observing developments in the capital for many years. “Berlin is one of Germany’s science capitals. The concentration of research institutes here is unique, as is the high level of networking among institutes.” He is also convinced of Berlin’s potential as a science location: “Here you won’t find the traditional trappings of industry like smoking chimneys, just plenty of high-tech. After all, the last thing research fields like thin-film photovoltaics, IT and mathematics need are smoking chimneys. “

A start-up service was established at the university in 2007 to bring science and business even closer together and is a starting point for any university members thinking of founding a company. It has already produced a number of award-winning enterprises and cooperative projects. “One example of a successful project is the T-Labs,” says Jörg Steinbach. Deutsche Telekom Laboratories was founded as a research and development institute and its telecoms experts and scientists are working on providing innovations for tomorrow’s communications. Steinbach adds, “Telekom gains from contacting highly trained and educated people through us and we profit from their business and industry experience. “ A concept that works. In July 2010, the Technische Universität received an award in the Businessplan-Wettbewerb (Business Plan Competition) for being the Berlin university most actively involved in creating new start-ups.

Finding a Balance between Research and Business

The new President also has many plans for the future of the Technische Universität. “As well as bringing science and research closer to business, I want to advance basic research. An even balance is crucial here. We also want to continue to provide strong support for the next generation of young scientists.” And Jörg Steinbach has yet another goal. “To approach new projects with courage and create the space for our own ideas and activities, even in this era of tight budgets. “

Jörg Steinbach – Facts & Figures

Professor Dr.-Ing. Jörg Steinbach has shown a commitment to science and science education well beyond the university campus. He has served as, among other things, a member of the board of the Process Safety section of DECHEMA (The Society for Engineering and Biotechnology), a member of the Federal Ministry for the Environment’s Technical Committee on Plant Safety, and has been President of the European Society for Engineering Education (SEFI). He has also been Chairman of the Accreditation Agency for Degree Programmes in Engineering, Informatics/Computer Science, the Natural Sciences and Mathematics (ASIIN) since 2007.

You will also find Jörg Steinbach in the Who's Who Berlin: Capital of Science