Honorary Doctorate for Professor Peter Haring Bolívar
A great honor for Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Haring Bolívar of the Siegen Chair of High-Frequency Technology and Quantum Electronics: On October 9, Prof. Haring Bolívar was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Orléans. The honor was bestowed as part of the celebrations marking the founding of the University of Orléans in 1306. Along with Prof. Haring Bolívar, Prof. Dr. Petra Reinke of the Charité in Berlin and Prof. Dr. Ermanno Calzolaio of the Italian Universita di Macerata received this special academic honor.
“The honorary doctorate recognizes Prof. Haring Bolívar’s outstanding achievements in the development of high-frequency optoelectronic systems and smart sensors, as well as his commitment to international and interdisciplinary collaboration in research and teaching. By establishing the high-tech research center INCYTE—a project he initiated and significantly advanced in his capacity as former Prorector—he has also provided important impetus for cutting-edge international research. It is precisely this spirit of collaboration that is also evident in our European university alliance ATHENA, to which the University of Siegen and the University of Orléans belong, along with eight other European universities,” said Prof. Dr. Stefanie Reese. The Rector of the University of Siegen has assumed the presidency of the ATHENA European University on a rotating basis for one year.
In his keynote address titled “From Matter to Intelligence: Advanced Materials, THz Sensing, and the Perspective of Cognitive Sensors,” Prof. Haring Bolívar focused on the development of intelligent sensor systems, from the underlying materials to applications of artificial intelligence. At the same time, the lecture underscored the importance of multidisciplinary and international collaboration in addressing today’s complex technological and societal challenges.
The high-tech research center INCYTE traces its origins to the work of Prof. Haring Bolívar, as does the international degree program “Embedded Intelligence Nanosystems Engineering” (EMINENT), which he directs. This program is offered jointly by five universities—including the University of Siegen and Orléans.
EMINENT was initiated and developed as part of the ATHENA European University. The University of Siegen has been a member of the European university alliance since 2020. ATHENA promotes strategic networking among its partner universities in research, teaching, and knowledge transfer, thereby creating new opportunities for cross-border academic collaboration. Nine rectors of the ATHENA partner universities attended the ceremony in Orléans.
The University of Siegen and the University of Orléans have been linked by a strategic partnership for many years. This collaboration has given rise to numerous joint activities in research and teaching. The conferral of an honorary doctorate on Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Haring Bolívar gives this partnership special visibility and, at the same time, a new dimension.
Further Information
ATHENA European University is a European university alliance dedicated to providing high-quality education and innovative research, as well as strengthening European cohesion. ATHENA (Advanced Technology through Higher Education and Novel Approaches) brings together ten European universities, including Ukraine’s leading technical university, the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. In addition to strategic collaboration, the alliance jointly offers an attractive, flexible, and practice-oriented program for students, researchers, faculty, and staff in both academic and administrative roles. The University of Siegen has been a member of the alliance since 2020. In June 2024, the European Commission awarded ATHENA the “Seal of Excellence,” recognizing the high quality of our educational, research, and impact initiatives at the European level.
