Secretary General
Lothar Hartmann serves as Secretary General of CIRAS, bringing over 35 years of distinguished international leadership in technology, finance, and sustainable innovation to the organization. In this strategic role, Mr. Hartmann supports the Executive Council in setting institutional priorities, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and ensuring that CIRAS’s global initiatives are delivered with excellence, integrity, and impact
| Secretary General | Chief Scientific Coordinator | Director Science |
| CIRAS Executive Leadership | CIRAS Directorate for Scientific Integration – DSI | CIRAS Directorate for Scientific Integration – DSI |
Throughout his career, Lothar has shaped complex technology and finance environments across multiple industries, including banking, insurance, automotive, and renewable energy. He is recognized for his ability to bridge technological innovation with organizational strategy, enabling transformative solutions that address both global challenges and institutional goals.
Before assuming leadership as Secretary General, Lothar oversaw the strategic integration of advanced technologies across CIRAS’s 12 key sectors, with a focus on renewable energy, IT architecture, and systems management. His work aligned institutional research priorities with emerging global trends and ensured the deployment of future-ready digital and sustainable solutions.
Lothar’s professional achievements span transformational digital infrastructure projects, high-performance computing initiatives, and pioneering work in renewable energy systems. Notably, he played a key role in developing the global IT infrastructure for Project ITER at the Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics, and he contributed to early implementations of the World Wide Web in collaboration with CERN and NASA. He also directed large-scale data center and supercomputing deployments with IBM, and led complex system architecture projects for major multinational automotive, inshurence corporations and top Tier 1 banks.
As Secretary General, Mr. Hartmann continues to advance CIRAS’s mission to foster interdisciplinary innovation, global partnerships, and sustainable development. His strategic vision and deep technical experience support the organization’s commitment to bridging knowledge, policy, and practice for a resilient and equitable future.
Key Contributions and Expertise:
Technology and Innovation Leadership: Lothar has spearheaded global IT projects, managing system and network architecture, IT security, software development, and server consolidation for leading blue-chip companies.
Pioneering Digital Infrastructure: At the Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics, he played a pivotal role in developing the global IT infrastructure for Project ITER, a milestone in scientific research.
Early Internet Development: Collaborated with CERN and NASA to implement the first version of the World Wide Web, revolutionizing how humanity connects and shares information.
Renewable Energy Expertise: Designed and developed large-scale photovoltaic plants across Europe, driving advancements in sustainable energy solutions.
High-Performance Computing: Built supercomputers and data centers with IBM, launching some of the largest global IT initiatives to date.
Impact at CIRAS:
Lothar’s comprehensive experience in advanced systems and sustainable development empowers CIRAS to lead transformative research and innovation. His expertise directly supports CIRAS’s focus on renewable energy, smart infrastructure, and digital transformation, helping the organization deliver impactful, future-ready solutions.
Through his leadership, CIRAS continues to bridge the gap between technology and sustainability, driving global progress in line with its mission to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
