Fraunhofer Future Foundation (Germany): Thomas Hirth elected Chair of the Executive Board

Thomas Hirth is the new Chair of the Fraunhofer-Zukunftsstiftung (Fraunhofer Future Foundation), after the board of trustees appointed the innovation manager to this position effective 01/07/2025, announces the foundation on 17/07/2025.

He succeeds Hans-Jörg Bullinger, who has been Chair since 2020. Thomas Hirth is also Vice President for Innovation and International Affairs at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Chairman of the Board at the KIT Foundation.

"The chemist is well acquainted with Fraunhofer: He held various positions in the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft between 1992 and 2015. Among other things, he headed the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart and was a member of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s praesidium", notes the German foundation.

"We are gaining a leader who takes research organisations to the top, enabling them to combine innovation and social responsibility excellently. We look forward to continuing to develop the Fraunhofer Future Foundation together. Hirth is a worthy successor to Hans-Jörg Bullinger, who…