In memory of Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Kurt Drescher

On February 24, 2023, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Kurt Drescher passed away at the age of 92. We are all deeply saddened by this news, and our condolences and commiserations go first and foremost to his family.

Through his far-sighted influence on microelectronics research and teaching, Prof. Drescher made a significant contribution to Technische Universität Dresden's firm and internationally esteemed position in this field. He was elected as first director of the Institute for Semiconductors and Microsystems (IHM) at the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He led it with indefatigable drive until his retirement and actively embedded it in the German and international research landscape.
 Moreover, he strove for the consolidation of microelectronics in the Free State of Saxony. He remained an active member and honorary chairman of the Silicon Saxony association, whose foundation he helped to initiate.

After studying physics from 1951 to 1956 at what was then TH Dresden, he began his scientific career in 1956 at the Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry under the internationally renowned researcher Prof. Schwabe. He obtained his doctorate in the field of high-resolution parametric nuclear resonance spectroscopy and immediately afterwards took on a position as group leader, later as head of department and finally as head of division at the former Center for Molecular Electronics Dresden, which later became the Center for Microelectronics. Prof. Drescher scientifically investigated the establishment and supervision of specialized laboratories for analytics and measuring technology, which were and still are of fundamental significance for semiconductor technology. A major achievement was the so-called ninefold repeater, for which the 1969 National Prize was awarded. From the very beginning, all members of Prof. Drescher's team appreciated the excellent working atmosphere, which was associated with the pursuit of high standards. His outstanding technical knowledge was the reason why Prof. Drescher was assigned to university educational tasks as early as 1965. Following several intermediate stations, he was appointed full professor for the technology of electronic components at the then Technical University of Karl-Marx-Stadt in 1973. At that time, there was probably no other person in the GDR with a more profound knowledge of semiconductor technology and the related industry. Based on this knowledge, Prof. Drescher worked tirelessly and with great energy to advance university research in this field. With great tenacity, arising from inner conviction, he stood up to all barriers of bureaucracy, narrow-mindedness and ignorance and was ultimately able to realize major projects, such as the founding of the Microelectronics Technical Center at the Karl-Marx-Stadt Technical University.

In 1981, Prof. Drescher was reassigned from Karl-Marx-Stadt to TU Dresden. The events of 1989/90 found him at the forefront scientifically and politically. One of the reasons why the integration of the IHM was a great success was that Prof. Drescher, thanks to his profound expertise, was able to confidently assume that microelectronics in the Dresden area was extremely competitive, even on a supra-regional scale. In 2002, Prof. Drescher was honored with the Order of Merit of the Free State of Saxony.
It is thanks to personalities like Prof. Drescher that the most renowned European Center of Microelectronics is located in the Free State of Saxony. In gratitude for his comprehensive achievements, we bow our heads before the departed. His achievements as a university lecturer will remain unforgotten and his human greatness remains a benchmark for all who knew him.