Implementation of the Thuringian Innovation Strategy: RIS Strategy Advisory Boards are being restructured and driving strategy implementation forward

In November 2025, the regular reorganization of the 5 strategic advisory boards took place as part of the implementation of the Thuringian Innovation Strategy (RIS Thuringia)

Since 2022, around 80 dedicated Thuringian experts from business, science, and networks have accompanied and significantly shaped the implementation of the RIS. Their work has made a decisive contribution to strengthening the innovative power of the Free State of Thuringia.

For the new term of office from 2025 to 2028, the election of the new speakers and their deputies took place in particular.

The election from among the advisory board members yielded the following results:

1. Advisory Board: Industrial Production and Systems

• Spokesperson: Dr. Gabriel Kittler, X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries GmbH
• Deputy Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Andreas Tünnermann, Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF

2nd Advisory Board: Healthy Living and Health Economy

• Speaker: Dr. Jan Heise, fzmb GmbH, Research Center for Medical Technology and Biotechnology
• Deputy Speaker: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Popp, Leibniz Institute for Photonic Technologies e.V. 

3rd Advisory Board: Sustainable and Intelligent Mobility and Logistics

• Speaker: Prof. Dr. Uwe Plank-Wiedenbeck, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
• Deputy Spokesperson: Rico Chmelik, at – automotive thüringen.e.V.
• Deputy Spokesperson: Dr. Harald Hempel, Dako GmbH

4th Advisory Board: ICT / innovative and production-related services

• Speaker: Hans Elstner, rooom AG
• Deputy Speaker: Sebastian Gawron, IAB – Institute for Applied Building Research Weimar gGmbH
• Deputy Spokesperson: Prof. Andrej Werner, Ernst-Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena 

5. Advisory Board: Sustainable Energy and Resource Use

• Speaker: Prof. Dr. Silvio Beier, Bauhaus University Weimar
• Deputy Spokesperson: Benjamin Redlingshöfer, TITK – Thuringian Institute for Textile and Plastics Research Rudolstadt e.V. 

The team from Innovativ Thüringen and the TMWLLR congratulate the elected members and look forward to further collaboration.

The new term of office will be characterized by central tasks, including the implementation of the developed roadmaps and the integration with the foresight process in order to anticipate future developments at an early stage.

Background of the RIS Thuringia 

The RIS Thuringia pursues the goal of increasing the innovative strength of the Thuringian economy. Through the networking of industry, production-related services, and science, solutions for technological and societal challenges are to be developed. The advisory boards are a central link in this process: they advise the Thuringian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Areas (TMWLLR) and the LEG Thüringen on innovation policy topics and contribute their expertise to the further development of the five aforementioned RIS specialization fields:

Conclusion: With the reconstitution of the RIS advisory boards, an exciting phase begins. We thank all previous members for their commitment and look forward to working with the advisory board members.