Dr Gerd Loehden obtained his PhD in polymer chemistry from the University of Hamburg in 1994. In 1995, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship in polymer chemistry at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (USA). Starting in 1996, he worked as a research scientist at Degussa AG, subsequently holding various positions in research and applied technology within the company until 2003. From 2003 to 2025, he led several large research and development units within Evonik Industries or its predecessor organisations, with a focus on materials, including polymers, inorganic compounds, and integrated systems.