Reinhold W. Lang

Head of Institute for Polymeric Materials and Testing, University of Linz, Austria

Professor Lang graduated in 1978 at the University of Leoben (A) with a Dipl.-Ing. degree in Polymer Engineering and Science, and he obtained a PhD degree in 1984 at Lehigh University (USA). He then joined BASF AG (D) from 1984 to 1991, holding a research and group leader position in the field of advanced composites. In 1991 he became Full Professor at the University of Leoben (A). Acting also as Director of the Polymer Competence Center Leoben (PCCL) from 2002 to 2008, he had a leading role in establishing and developing the PCCL to about 100 employees. Since September 2009 he holds the Chair of Polymeric Materials and Testing at the Johannes Kepler University (JKU) Linz (A), also heading the institute with the same name.

The research focus of Professor Lang is in the fields of "Mechanics, Fracture and Fatigue of Plastics and Polymer Composites” and "Polymeric Materials & Sustainable Development”. He is author and co-author, respectively, of more than 230 papers. In his role as initiator and coordinator of large, multi-partner collaborative research projects (science and industry), he has successfully applied for and directed a publically funded research budget of about EURO 65 Mio. over the past 15 years. Thus he currently acts as Project Director of the Austrian research project platform SolPol, focusing on polymer related innovations for solar technologies.