Christoph Eberl is deputy director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM in Freiburg and head of the Chair of Micro- and Materials Mechanics at the University of Freiburg. He initiated the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Programmable Materials and serves as its scientific coordinator. As a thought leader in the digitalization of materials research, he is the spokesperson for the National Research Data Infrastructure NFDI-MatWerk, co-chair of the consortium assembly in the NFDI association, and a member of the steering committee of the MaterialDigital platform of the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR).
For Eberl, the digital transformation of materials research is the key to international competitiveness in science and industry, as well as to addressing global challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and energy supply. The development, manufacturing, and use of materials are knowledge-based and collaborative processes, and ultimately, materials information and knowledge—and their availability to the stakeholders in companies and research institutions—determine innovation, speed, and sustainability.
This is precisely where Eberl sees an opportunity for Germany as an innovation hub. With public initiatives such as Plattform MaterialDigital and NFDI-MatWerk, as well as the numerous projects that have emerged from them with high levels of industry participation, the German research and innovation system, even in international comparison, has the ideal conditions to generate sustainable impact and value creation through digital transformation.
Eberl sees the DVM with its mission "Digitalization—Networking—Materials Innovations" as holding a central and responsible position in this value creation network. With its working groups, events, and network, the DVM and the people involved in it serve both as a hub and as ambassadors, contributing to the transformation of materials research driving sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness in Germany and within society.
In his new role, Prof. Dr. Christoph Eberl sees himself as a catalyst, motivator, and enabler, and is eager to work with the DVM to advance his passion — the digital transformation of materials research — in order to give academic and industrial partners a competitive advantage in the global marketplace.
Press release: "Chris Eberl elected new chairman of the DVM" [ PDF 0,13 MB ]
Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM