GICON CEO Appointed Visiting Professor at the University of Naples Federico II

With his appointment as Federico II Visiting Professor by Rector Prof. Matteo Lorito, GICON CEO Prof. Jochen Großmann has delivered his inaugural lecture at the Polytechnic and Applied Science School. As part of the “Department of Excellence” project oft he Dept. of Industrial Engineering, the lecture series is held under the title “From Research to Innovation – a challenging route from research to market.”

Naples, 24 November 2025

„The Department of Industrial Engineering of the Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II has been awarded as an Excellence Department by our Ministry of the University; the funded project allows to invite distinguished scientist and entrepreneurs involved in the field of Energy and Digital Transition. Prof. Grossman has been invited as Federico II’ s excellence Visiting Professor for his recognized contribution to innovate renewables in Europe. The PhD course is organized for the PhD in Industrial Engineering and in Technology, Innovation and Management (TIM) at Federico II. A plenary Keynote will start the program with academic authorities and a panel of international leading experts on fostering cooperation between research centers and innovative companies”, said Prof. Nicola Bianco – Director and Prof. Antonio Lanzotti – Presidente CODEC-DII – during the inaugural lecture held by GICON CEO Prof. Jochen Großmann at the University of Naples.

Since its foundation, GICON has placed particular emphasis on the innovative strength of its companies:  In addition to innovative software tools and methods, roughly 100 patents have been developed in the field of renewable energies, several of which have successfully reached market maturity. “We have always seen ourselves as an innovation bridge between science and industry,” Großmann emphasizes. This combination of practical engineering services with outstanding research expertise is unparalleled in Germany.

“The highly practice-oriented research and development teams at GICON see themselves as a bridge between academic and institutional research on the one hand and large-scale industrial practice on the other. Alongside excellent technical qualifications, our strength lies in the experience our employees bring from the commercial core business across various industries.”

To make use of the decades of experience and visionary strength of the GICON founder for the next generation, the University of Naples explicitly asked Prof. Großmann, as part of his Visiting Professorship, to speak on topics of technological development in the field of renewable energies.

In his inaugural lecture as visiting professor, he covered everything from initial research projects to successful market launches. He also placed particular emphasis on the rapid development of an idea to market maturity, from TRL 1 to TRL 9. “The example of the GICON high-altitude wind tower shows how one project can serve many other technologies and fields. Not only did we develop a telescopic lattice mast structure, but we also created solutions for weak subsurfaces for wind turbines through plate–pile foundations, and through comprehensive environmental monitoring we gained insights that help sustainably protect the habitats of birds and bats.” In further lectures from 24–28 November 2025, Prof. Großmann will present additional innovative technologies and their market introduction in the fields of onshore and offshore wind energy, microalgae, and bioenergy.

With his appointment as Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Prof. Großmann contributes to the “Department of Excellence” program of the National Agency for the Evaluation of the University and Research System (ANVUR).

About the University:
The University of Naples Federico II,  founded in 1224 by Emperor Frederick II, is one of the oldest universities in the world and a major research and teaching institution in Italy. It offers a broad range of degree programs in engineering, natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and medicine. With its strong international orientation, numerous research projects, and collaborative initiatives, it ranks among Europe’s most prestigious universities. Particularly noteworthy is its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the transfer of knowledge between academia and industry.