Dr. Germar Schneider appointed honorary professor

Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG), has appointed Dr. Germar Schneider as an honorary professor at the HSZG. The five-year honorary professorship is entitled "Honorary Professorship for Chemical Processes in Semiconductor Production" and is located in the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences.

Dr. Schneider has many years of scientific and industrial experience in the field of chemical processes and technologies in semiconductor production. His professional career is characterized by the combination of application-oriented research, industrial practice and collaboration on technologically sophisticated development and production processes. He thus brings proven expertise in a key area of modern high technology to the HSZG.

Within the framework of the honorary professorship, Dr. Schneider will teach for 2 semester hours per week (SWS). In his classes / courses, he will provide students with in-depth insights into chemical processes involved in semiconductor production and address current issues from research and industrial applications in order to dovetail theoretical principles with the real requirements of the semiconductor industry.

With the appointment of Dr. Schneider, the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences is strengthening its profile in the natural and environmental sciences as well as in the strategically important field of semiconductor technologies. The honorary professorship underlines the HSZG's claim to offer excellent teaching with high practical relevance and to further position Upper Lusatia as an innovative science and technology location.

The Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences is looking forward to working with Dr. Germar Schneider and wishes him every success in his role as honorary professor.

Welcome, Professor Dr. Germar Schneider. Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Germar Schneider and I have been teaching at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences since October 2020. I was delighted to be appointed honorary professor in November 2025. I represent the field of chemistry at the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences and bring my many years of experience in industrial semiconductor production to university teaching. I was born in Augsburg in 1964.

In addition to my professional career, I also have many personal ties with Upper Lusatia. My father comes from Lower Silesia and parts of my family already lived in Dresden. When I came to Dresden in 1998, my aunt told me about the charming places in Upper Lusatia - Zittau, Oybin, Jonsdorf and Lückendorf. She raved about the vacations she had spent there during the GDR era and how much this region was close to her heart. I also quickly learned to appreciate this landscape and the people here. The proximity to Poland and the Czech Republic in particular opens up many opportunities for close, successful cooperation in the heart of Europe.

What has your career path been like?

My professional career has been characterized by the close connection between science and industrial practice. After studying chemistry at the University of Ulm, which I completed with a Diplom in 1991, I did my doctorate in analytical chemistry. My path led me into industry early on, initially as a process engineer for wet chemistry at Siemens in France. This was followed by positions as product manager for semiconductor chemicals at Merck in Darmstadt and various management positions at Siemens and then Infineon in Dresden.

I worked there for many years as a lead engineer in the areas of wet chemistry, automation and wafer testing and have been a Senior Manager at Infineon Dresden in the Innovation & Funding department since 2012. In this role, I am committed to the further development of pioneering technologies and the promotion of innovation projects in order to sustainably strengthen Infineon's competitiveness and Germany as a location for innovation.

What motivated you personally to contribute your industrial expertise to university teaching through an honorary professorship?

I have always maintained contact with science. In the company, I have supervised a large number of theses together with the respective universities - from project work, Bachelor's and Master's theses to doctoral theses. As part of my activities in supra-regional funding projects, I have been working with numerous universities in Europe for many years and have been able to build up a large network. I have been working with the HSZG on large research and development (R&D) projects since 2017. And since 2020, I have been very happy to take on teaching activities at the HSZG for industrial engineering and mechanical engineering. I really enjoy working with young people. I look forward to the lectures with the students and young scientists at the HSZG,

You will continue to work in the private sector - how do students benefit from this in your teaching at the HSZG?

In the semiconductor industry in particular, technology and production are developing so rapidly that I can still learn something new every single day - and that's exactly what inspires me. I would like to continue to actively participate in technical developments together with companies and partners from industry and research, attend conferences and write new publications.

I am happy to pass on the knowledge that I gather and share to the students. It fulfills me to arouse their curiosity, to show them new perspectives and to accompany them on their own path into a fascinating future of technology.

Why are chemical processes such a key success factor in modern semiconductor production - and therefore also for future engineers?

Chemical processes play a central role in the semiconductor industry. Every day, a variety of materials, chemicals and gases are needed to produce the delicate circuits on the wafers. These processes are highly complex and have to interact perfectly - which is why a deep understanding of chemical and physical relationships is required.

Particularly in areas such as wet chemistry, etching and deposition, chemical-mechanical polishing or lithography, engineers need to have a solid and wide-ranging knowledge of chemistry. From my own experience, I can say that anyone who has studied chemistry has an excellent foundation and has a good chance of gaining a foothold in the semiconductor industry and shaping an exciting professional future there.

How do you design your teaching to bridge the gap between theoretical principles and industrial requirements?

In my lectures and exercises, I deliberately ask the students at the beginning about their expectations - of me, of the course and of learning together. It is important for me to understand what motivates them and what they want. In addition to theoretical knowledge, I also want to give them a feel for the practical side of things. That's why I bring in lots of examples and experiences from my day-to-day work to make the content lively, exciting and tangible.

It is very important to me to motivate the students and show them how relevant and fascinating the topics really are. Through various exercises after the lectures and targeted exam preparation, I help them to consolidate what they have learned and go into the exam with a good feeling. It is a personal concern of mine that they not only pass, but that they really take something away with them.

What advice would you give to students who want to work in the semiconductor industry or in application-oriented research later on?

I always make it clear to students how incredibly varied the work in the semiconductor industry is. This industry is constantly growing and those who enter it generally have excellent development opportunities. And it never gets boring in our highly dynamic industry; flexibility is always required. In order to prepare students as well as possible for practical work, I share a lot of personal experience and give them tips that have helped me along the way and can make it easier for them to get started later on.

What skills or competencies do you think are particularly important today in order to be successful in this high-tech field?

For the future degree courses at the HSCG - in chemistry, for example - I'm really keen to give students an understanding of more than just the basics of semiconductor processes and chemical methods. I also want to give them a solid understanding of manufacturing processes and lean management. For their entry into industry or research, I want students to be able to start with a broad, practical knowledge that gives them confidence and makes it easier for them to start their careers.

And on a more practical note, do you have any personal survival tips for students during exam periods or when studying challenging technical subjects?

My most important recommendation is to attend lectures and exercises regularly and to find a good balance between learning and relaxation. For me, both are an inseparable part of successful exam preparation.

I often think back to my own exam times: when I felt I was well prepared, I deliberately allowed myself little breaks - walking, cycling, swimming or doing sport. These moments helped me to clear my head and then go into the exam with more calm and confidence. I would also like to recommend this balance to my students.

It is also important for me to convey how crucial perseverance, self-confidence and a positive attitude are. These qualities make it much easier to master not only exams, but also later professional challenges.

How do you manage to combine your work in industry with teaching at the university?

Through my work in industry, I learn something new every day and am constantly expanding my specialist knowledge. I pass a lot of this on directly in specialist circles and publications. Anything that is particularly good for teaching, I incorporate into the manuscripts of my lectures. Good time management is incredibly important to me for this to succeed.

That's why I often spend evenings or weekends working on my documents - not because I have to, but because it's really important to me. In my projects, I make sure to organize my work as efficiently as possible. I try to avoid unnecessary meetings and consciously focus on the essentials. In this way, I create space for what is really important to me: passing on knowledge that immediately offers real added value.

What do you personally still find most fascinating about semiconductor technology - even after many years of professional experience?

What fascinates me most about the semiconductor industry is that I work there every day on technologies for a future worth living. And this dynamism is incredibly appealing to me: hardly any other industry is developing so quickly. Every new generation of chips presents us with exciting challenges that demand creativity, expertise and team spirit. I've really never been bored in all these years.

But I am also particularly motivated by the thought that the products we work on are indispensable for our everyday lives today: Smartphones, medical devices, cars, communications technology, energy efficiency - semiconductor technology plays a key role everywhere. It fills me with pride to know that my work is helping to ensure that these technologies work and continue to progress.

And last but not least, I really enjoy working with colleagues from different departments. Tinkering with complex problems together, exchanging ideas and ultimately developing a solution is one of the best parts of the job for me. This mixture of innovation, teamwork and real relevance for the world is the reason why I am still so enthusiastic about the semiconductor industry today.

Is there a professional or personal motto that stays with you?

My motto is always "crisis is opportunity" and "there are never problems, only challenges".

What three things should never be missing in your working environment - whether at university or in industry?

Fun at work, good teamwork, good equipment and know-how.

Where do you find the best balance to your everyday working life?

With my family at home and working in my garden in the summer. I like planting fruit and vegetables and relieving stress by weeding and watering the garden.

The interview was conducted by the University Development and Communication Office, UAS Human Resources Department.