Hermann Knauf

Hermann Knauf currently serves as the Director of Research & Development at Evonik Rexim SAS, where he leverages his extensive expertise to drive innovation in the development and optimization of manufacturing processes for high-value ingredients across pharmaceutical, food, and cell culture applications. His strategic focus on purification and separation technologies—particularly for amino acids, amino acid salts, derivatives, peptides, and keto acids—positions him at the forefront of advancing Evonik’s capabilities in bioprocessing and ingredient manufacturing. Hermann’s leadership emphasizes a holistic approach that integrates scientific excellence with lean execution principles, ensuring that R&D efforts translate into tangible customer value and competitive advantages.

In his role, Hermann oversees complex projects that involve process development, scale-up, and quality assurance, fostering cross-functional collaboration among teams dedicated to product innovation, fermentation, and food safety. His commitment to people development and coaching has cultivated a high-performing R&D environment, encouraging continuous learning and agile problem-solving. Hermann’s expertise in project management and team leadership ensures that innovation pipelines are efficiently managed, aligning technical breakthroughs with market needs.

Moreover, Hermann actively contributes to Evonik’s innovation management network, spearheading initiatives that explore new separation technologies and sustainable manufacturing practices. His deep industry knowledge, combined with a passion for doing the right things right, enables him to navigate the challenges of the biopharmaceutical and food industries while maintaining a sharp focus on customer-centric solutions. Through his strategic vision and operational excellence, Hermann Knauf continues to strengthen Evonik Rexim SAS’s position as a leader in specialty ingredient development, fostering growth and technological advancement in a highly competitive landscape.