On 18 June 2026, the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (IFW Dresden) received two awards at the 28th certificate ceremony of berufundfamilie Service GmbH in Berlin. The institute was awarded the audit berufundfamilie certificate for the seventh time and received the audit beruf&vielfalt certificate for the first time. The certifications recognize IFW Dresden’s long-standing commitment to family-friendly working conditions and the compatibility of work, family and personal life, as well as its strategic efforts to further develop a comprehensive diversity management approach.
“For us, family-friendliness and diversity go hand in hand. We are committed to fostering an institute culture in which people with different backgrounds and life experiences feel welcome and are able to realize their full potential. This benefits not only our employees, but also our research. As an international research institute, we experience every day how different perspectives, experiences, cultural backgrounds and social realities enrich collaboration and strengthen our capacity for innovation,” says Juliane Schmidt, Administrative Director of IFW Dresden, who also discussed these topics during a panel discussion at the award ceremony.
For IFW Dresden, the first-time certification under the audit beruf&vielfalt framework represents a natural continuation of its long-standing commitment to attractive working conditions. The institute has been certified under audit berufundfamilie since 2007 and has been a signatory of the German Diversity Charter (Charta der Vielfalt) since 2008.
As part of the audit process, IFW Dresden conducted a structured assessment of employees’ needs and translated the findings into concrete measures. Key topics included a culture of trust, equal opportunities, work-life integration, and diversity. Through the audit beruf&vielfalt process, existing measures are now being systematically reviewed and further developed. Particular attention is being paid to the needs of international employees and to creating a work environment that makes diversity visible and actively promotes inclusion.
More than forty nationalities are represented among IFW Dresden’s scientific, technical and administrative staff. This international environment is an integral part of everyday life at the institute and provides an important foundation for excellent research and successful collaboration.
By renewing its audit berufundfamilie certification and obtaining the audit beruf&vielfalt certificate for the first time, IFW Dresden reaffirms its commitment to combining scientific excellence with an open, family-friendly and diverse workplace culture.
Contact
Patricia Bäuchler
Communications
p.baeuchler@ifw-dresden.de
+49 351 4659 249
Contact – Equal Opportunities Officer at IFW Dresden
gleichstellungsbeauftragte@ifw-dresden.de
