Thomas Herlitzius

Thomas Herlitzius is a Professor at Dresden University of Technology, holding the Chair of Agricultural Systems Technology since 2007. He has served as Director of the Institute of Natural Materials Technology since 2016 and previously led the Scientific Advisory Board of the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Engineering in Potsdam from 2008 to 2016. Born in Freiberg/Saxony in 1961, his research focuses on developing advanced machinery and sustainable processes to address global challenges in food security and resource conservation.

Herlitzius's research interests span agricultural systems engineering, digitalization, cobotics (collaborative robotics), and sustainable processes. His work aims to innovatively integrate technologies such as computer science, mechatronics, and electrical engineering into agricultural machinery to enhance efficiency while conserving resources and ensuring biodiversity. He emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary approaches to meet the demands of a growing global population and to replace oil-based energy systems.

He envisions future agricultural systems that can sustain nine billion people with minimal expansion of arable land. As Director of the Institute of Natural Materials Technology, he leads initiatives to devise machine systems that balance productivity with ecological preservation. Herlitzius is committed to training engineers with strong technical foundations and soft skills, advocating for a curriculum that prepares students to tackle complex, large-scale challenges through creativity and teamwork.