New member appointed to the University Advisory Board of the University of Kassel

Oliver Grönlund is Senior Vice President of the Center of Excellence Infusion & Pain Therapy at B. Braun Melsungen AG. In this role, he is responsible for around 6,000 employees at 13 locations worldwide in the areas of Operations, Technology, R&D and Regulatory Affairs.

Since joining B. Braun in 2011, Dr. Grönlund has played a key role in the strategic development of key areas of the company. He initially set up new structures in the area of research and development and later took over the management of the Development Center IV Systems. There, he led international teams at several locations and successfully implemented innovation strategies - including the development of closed IV systems, the introduction of new product generations and the establishment of global development processes to accelerate market launches. As Senior Vice President for IV Systems & Urology, he assumed responsibility for ten global manufacturing sites in 2021 and drove the integration of the Pain Control/CVC division into today's Center of Excellence Infusion & Pain Therapy. Under his leadership, the technology leadership for the mass production of medical devices was expanded by restructuring and realigning the Technology Center.

Doctorate at the RWTH Aachen

Before joining B. Braun, Dr. Grönlund worked as a scientist at RWTH Aachen University. There, he completed his doctorate at the Institute for Plastics Processing (IKV) and headed the Injection Molding and Polyurethane Processing Department until his move to industry.

Dr. Grönlund has also been involved in the interface between industry and science for many years. He played a key role in the founding and establishment of the UNIpace application center, which emerged from an industrial cooperation between B. Braun and the University of Kassel in 2013 and combines research, teaching and industrial projects in the field of plastics processing. As a founding member of the Industrial Advisory Board of the University of Kassel, Dr. Grönlund contributes his expertise to the exchange between science and industry and thus supports the practical development of course content. He is also a member of the advisory board of the Göttingen Health Campus, where he supports the professional training of future healthcare professionals - particularly in innovative degree programmes in nursing, therapeutic sciences, medical technology and social work.

University President Prof. Dr. Ute Clement: "We are very pleased that with Dr.-Ing. Oliver Grönlund we have been able to gain a person for the University Advisory Board who will advise and enrich the Board with both scientific and economic expertise."

Background:

The University Advisory Board supports the university in its development, articulates the expectations that exist in the professional world and promotes the use of scientific knowledge and artistic achievements. The University Advisory Board has a right of initiative on fundamental university matters and must approve development planning. It makes recommendations on course planning, evaluation procedures, target agreements, knowledge transfer as well as the appropriate and efficient administration and use of funds. It gives its opinion on the university's basic regulations, statement of accounts, budget planning, the establishment and discontinuation of degree programmes and the division of the university into Faculties. The University Advisory Board consists of up to ten people from business, professional practice and the fields of science and art. The members are appointed by the HMWK and half are nominated by the university and half by the ministry.