After the symbolic handover of the keys, Prof. Dietzek-Ivanšić emphasized in his inaugural speech that surfaces are the key to interacting with materials, creating new functional relationships and thus developing new applications. In this context, he praised the achievements of IOM employees as the key to knowledge and innovation and thus to the success of the institute. He took office with enthusiasm and gratitude and looked forward to the future together at the IOM.
Many guests from science, business and politics
Guests from politics, science and industry, colleagues from the Leibniz Institute of Surface Modification (IOM), the founding fathers Prof. Frieder Bigl and Prof. Reiner Mehnert as well as personal friends accepted the invitation to honor the merits of the former scientific director. The opening speech was given by State Secretary Prof. Heike Graßmann from the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism, representing Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow. She emphasized the importance and success of the institute, as reported by the IOM.
At the same time, she thanked Prof. Anders, who has provided new impetus at the IOM in his field of plasma physics and was faced with the task of driving forward restructuring and changes at the IOM. He took over the institute on September 1, 2017 and was tasked with continuing the implementation processes that had already begun following the recommendations of the external evaluation from 2015. One step was the establishment of interdisciplinary research areas and a focus on socially relevant topics.
IOM is heading in the right direction
The 2022 evaluation has confirmed that the IOM is on the right track under its leadership, as the institute states in its press release. Through its commitment, the institute has been able to further develop its strategy and increase its international visibility. The financial success should also be emphasized, as the Leibniz Association's funding system makes it possible to drive forward the strategic development of digital surface modification in an increasingly competitive environment.
The Secretary General of the Leibniz Association, Dr. Bettina Böhm, also highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence in her speech and emphasized that the strategic expansion would make an important contribution to the development of new methods in materials research. Ministerial Councillor Peter Hassenbach from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research also pointed out this connection in his welcoming address and emphasized the social relevance of the IOM's research.
Continued close partnership with Leipzig University
Prof. Jens-Karl Eilers said in his speech that the IOM has been a close partner of Leipzig University for many years, which is reflected above all in its high level of scientific publication activity, national and international cooperation and networks as well as joint appointments. He emphasized the important role of the joint labs between the university and the IOM as places where joint research is carried out. With the appointment of the new Scientific Director, the collaboration is to be continued and intensified, not least in teaching in the planned Master's degree course in Quantum Technologies.
In conclusion, Prof. Dr. Christina Trautmann from the Helmholtz Research Academy Hesse for the international particle accelerator facility Fair (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) summed up Prof. Anders' time in office on behalf of the Board of Trustees and the Scientific Advisory Board as a path with hurdles and challenges, but also with successes of which one could be proud.
Following the speeches, Prof. Anders thanked the speakers for their words of welcome and, looking back, for the many years of good and reliable cooperation and support from his colleagues at the IOM, the members of the Advisory Board and Board of Trustees, the ministries, the Leibniz Association, Leipzig University and his family and companions.
After the official handover of office, Prof. Peter Awakowicz from the Ruhr University Bochum and Prof. Holger Kersten from the Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel inspired the audience at the IOM with insights into the past and present of plasma research, Prof. Anders' scientific field of work.
Prof. Dietzek-Ivanšić has been the new Scientific Director and Chairman of the IOM and Professor of Applied Physics at the Faculty of Physics and Earth System Sciences at Leipzig University since March 2025. In him, the Institute has gained a highly renowned scientist who is not only well connected within the Leibniz Association, but is also internationally recognized for his outstanding scientific achievements, as the IOM reports. Most recently, he was a professor at the University of Jena and head of the "Functional Interfaces" research department at the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT) in Jena.