The Technische Universität Ilmenau mourns the loss of Prof. em. Dr.-Ing. habil. Wolfgang Gens, who passed away on September 24, 2025 at the age of 92. With his passing, the university has lost a formative personality who left a lasting mark on research, teaching and university policy.
His life's work is inextricably linked to the history and development of today's Technische Universität Ilmenau - as a scientist, academic teacher, designer and rector.
A life for electrical engineering and the university
Wolfgang Gens was born in Leipzig on February 23, 1933. He was fascinated by technical systems and their automation from an early age. In 1953, he was one of the first students at the then Ilmenau University of Electrical Engineering in the field of power engineering and electrical drives - a subject to which he dedicated his entire academic life.
After gaining his doctorate (1966) and habilitation (1984) in the field of three-phase drives, he was appointed Associate Professor at the Technische Hochschule Ilmenau in 1985 and finally became University Professor of Electrical Drives at the TU Ilmenau in 1993.
His academic home was the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, to which he remained closely associated for decades - even after his retirement.
Researcher, teacher and founder of a scientific school
In 1975, Prof. Gens began to establish the scientific field of control engineering and power electronics. By combining control engineering, applied control engineering, electrical drives and power electronics, he founded a scientific school that radiated far beyond Ilmenau.
This resulted in 3 university professors, 9 university of applied sciences professors and over 80 doctorates throughout Germany - as well as several successful company start-ups in Ilmenau. Wolfgang Gens has thus not only promoted academic careers, but also contributed to the regional culture of innovation.
Responsibility in university management
In addition to his academic activities, Prof. Gens also played a key role in shaping the development of the university:
In 1990, he was elected Vice-Rector for Science and was confirmed in this position in 1993. In May 1996, he was elected Rector of the TU Ilmenau, which he led with prudence, dedication and great personal commitment until June 2000.
In his inaugural speech as Rector, Prof. Gens emphasized the importance of "combining science, technology and society". He saw the university not only as a place to impart knowledge, but also as an active contributor to social development. His vision was to position the TU Ilmenau as an "innovative university with international appeal" that works closely with industry and promotes technology transfer.
Under his leadership, the university underwent decisive further development during a period of upheaval following reunification. He strengthened TU Ilmenau's profile as a modern technical university, promoted the expansion of international relations and advocated close links between science and industry.
The then Thuringian Science Minister Prof. Dagmar Schipanski paid tribute to him on his 70th birthday with the words:
'With prudence, dedication and very great personal commitment, Professor Gens, as Rector from 1996 to 2000, shaped and consolidated the name of TU Ilmenau in the German and international scientific community. He played a decisive role in the modern orientation of the TU Ilmenau after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Mentor and bridge builder
Wolfgang Gens always saw himself as part of the academic community. He was a professor who took his students seriously and a rector who could listen. His attitude was characterized by a sense of responsibility, collegiality and a firm belief in the power of academic collaboration.
Even in retirement, he remained closely connected to the university - among other things as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik e. V. and as an honorary member of the Steuerungstechnik und Leistungselektronik Verein (ISLE e.V.), in which he continued to promote young scientists and the development of his department.
In gratitude and honorable memory
With the death of Prof. em. Dr.-Ing. habil. Wolfgang Gens, TU Ilmenau has lost an outstanding personality who shaped the university for decades - as a researcher, teacher and designer.
We will remember his commitment, his foresight and his humane attitude with gratitude.
Our deepest sympathy goes to his family, his colleagues and all those who knew and appreciated him.