History of the Fraunhofer UMSICHT in pictures

From a think tank to paving the way to a sustainable world

In 2025, Fraunhofer UMSICHT celebrated its 35th anniversary. A lot has happened in these 35 years. A look at the history of Fraunhofer UMSICHT shows this. One example: At the time of its founding, five permanent employees worked for the institute; currently, more than 600 people work in Oberhausen, Sulzbach-Rosenberg and Willich. We take a look at some of the milestones in our history.

Milestones | 35 years of Fraunhofer UMSICHT

Whatever good a person gives into the world is not lost. [Albert Schweitzer]

Paul-Michael Weinspach was full professor of thermal process engineering at the University of Dortmund and headed the Institute for Environmental and Safety Engineering (UMSICHT) in Oberhausen from 1990 until his retirement in 2000.  The institute was incorporated into the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in 1998 as the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT).

Paul-Michael Weinspach was a successful and visionary scientist and research manager who, with patience and perseverance, pursued his idea in the 1980s of establishing a non-university institute for chemistry and safety technology together with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. It is thanks to his scientific competence and persistence that UMSICHT was founded under his leadership in June 1990 and developed into a successful Fraunhofer Institute.

Paul-Michael Weinspach was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit with Ribbon and the Badge of Honor of the City of Oberhausen.