‘The crises have shaped me the most’ - Karsten Beneke
For thirteen years, Karsten Beneke was at the helm of Forschungszentrum Jülich as deputy chairman of the board of directors. On 31 December 2024, the economics graduate retired and thus joined the ranks of the alumni.
Mr Beneke, what has shaped you the most during your time at Forschungszentrum Jülich?
A lot of things had an impact on me at Jülich, but I think the crises had the greatest influence: the Covid pandemic, the Russian war towards the West and its effects. As a secular trend, this also includes climate change, with increasingly frequent extreme weather events and especially the terrible flooding in the summer of 2021. Although we at the research centre got off lightly at the time, many of our employees were personally affected. What is striking for me in all these experiences is how abruptly and fundamentally our living conditions are changing. On the positive side, I have clearly seen the understanding and consideration at the research centre that has ensured that the centre has even emerged from the crises stronger in some respects.
What do you think is special about the research centre?
What I find particularly special about Forschungszentrum Jülich is, above all, the combination of remoteness and world class. On the one hand, the research centre is located quite remotely in a forest; on the other hand, it is at the forefront of global science in some areas. For example, it is one of only two Helmholtz institutions whose science has so far been awarded a Nobel Prize.
What developments have you witnessed during your time at the research centre?
When I came to Forschungszentrum Jülich in 2011, a development was underway that had been triggered by the loss of its original mission as a nuclear research centre. The research centre had responded to this by diversifying and becoming more multidisciplinary. In the 2010s, the aim was then to give this development more focus from a strategic perspective. In a sense, the research centre reinvented itself during this phase. In my opinion, the success of this development is also clearly reflected in the strong growth of recent years: during the 13 years I have been at the research centre, total revenue has doubled to over a billion, and the number of employees has increased by more than 50 per cent.
Are there any developments or trends at the research centre that you are anticipating and looking forward to?
One development I am looking forward to is the rejuvenation of the research centre. The baby boomers like me are gradually retiring. In addition to the opportunity for renewal, this also presents a challenge – due to demographic change and the competition for top talent. Jülich must assert itself in the competition, significantly expand the diversity that already exists and also attract personnel internationally.
Now that you are an alumnus of Forschungszentrum Jülich, will the research centre continue to support you?
The policy pursued by Forschungszentrum Jülich in the area of the alumni network will certainly also include me as a retiree in a friendly way. And I see myself in the role of giving something back: I promote the research centre whenever the opportunity arises. I hope I am a positive ambassador in this regard.
In an interview at the beginning of your time at Forschungszentrum Jülich, you said that you particularly value reliability and a sense of humour in a person. If you had to add to the characteristics mentioned today, what would you add?
I do appreciate both of these traits very much. Of course, not everyone has to have a sense of humour, but I always expect reliability. The third quality I would mention is empathy: I consider it important to have the ability or at least the interest to understand the goals and perspectives of others and to take them into account in one's own actions.