Dr. Rainer Höfer 

RAINER HÖFER is Vice-President (emeritus)
of Cognis GmbH, Monheim, Germany. He has received the
Henkel Innovation Award for Environmentally Benign
Organic Specialty Chemicals, the Cognis Innovation Award
for a new Star-polymer-based Defoamer Concept,
the Federation of German Industries (BDI) Award for
Environmentally Benign Surfactant-Systems based on
Renewable Raw Materials, the Solvsafe Consortium Award
for his Contribution to Sustainable Chemistry, and has
close to 200 patents and published journal and book
articles.
Dr. Höfer graduated in Inorganic Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Georg-August-Universität zu Göttingen. He spent three years at the Technical University of Oran (ENSEP),
Algeria, as Maître de Conférences and Directeur de l'Institut de Chimie before
joining Henkel KGaA in Düsseldorf. With Henkel and Cognis he has assumed global research and development, application technology, technical sales service, strategic business development and technology scouting responsibilities in oleochemistry, polymer chemistry and surfactant chemistry for the polymerization, coatings, graphic arts, adhesives, engineering plastics, agrochemical, synthetic lubricants, mining and pulp & paper markets. He is founder of Editorial Ecosiris with consultancy and publishing activities in the domains of Green Chemistry, White Biotechnology, Renewable Resources and Sustainable Development.