GN Babini (Industrial) Award

Retired CEO from FCT Ingenieurkeramik GmbH
Jena, Germany

On April 26, 1951, Dr. Karl Berroth was born in Untersontheim, in the idyllic landscape around Schwäbisch Hall, Germany. Growing up on his parents’ farm in a region known for its industry and down-to-earth, he developed a deep curiosity about nature and its complex relationships at an early age, which was to have a decisive influence on his later life.

After his school days as well as military service, he was drawn to the universities of Freiburg, Würzburg and Stuttgart for his academic training. Here he laid the foundation for his further career. With diligence and perseverance, he devoted himself to mineralogy, crystallography, solid-state physics and chemistry as well as materials science, which finally culminated in a doctorate as “Dr. rer. nat.”.

Then, after years of science, he first gained experience in the ceramics industry, where he came in contact with the new “engineered ceramics”, which became his profession. Dr. Karl Berroth expanded his expertise over decades in various positions. As laboratory manager and head of development, technical manager, application engineer, production, quality management, sales, managing director company founder and owner at well-known institutions such as Rosenthal Technik, Schunk Ingenieurkeramik, EMPA, UCSB, where he played significant roles, in particular FCT Ingenieurkeramik, which he built up for 20 years as his “own company” from a small technical lab to an internationally leading manufacturer and R & D partner for components made of non-oxide ceramics for high tech applications. As a visionary, innovator and reliable partner, he earned the trust of his customers. His work was always characterized by a spirit of innovation and the aspiration to translate “novelty” into practical application.

As holder of several patents, author of numerous publications and lecturer at different universities and congresses, Dr. Berroth is widely respected for bridging science and industry, building strong teams, networks and creating sustainable technological value. His career exemplifies how innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership can generate lasting impact across multiple industries.

He also was honoured with “Otto Hahn Medal”, “MUT Innovation Prize”, “TOP 100”, “Silver needle DKG” “Böttcher Medal”, and some “Best Supplier Awards”.

Today, retired as owner from FCT Ingenieurkeramik GmbH, now named STEREON Ceramics, Dr. Karl Berroth looks back on a fulfilled life, in which he has left lasting traces in his professional world without ever losing sight of his roots on the farm.