Professor Gerd Litfin, who is on Qioptiq’s board of directors, has been awarded the Cross of Merit, first class, of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by President Christian Wulff. The award marks the achievements of the founder and former board chairman of the LINOS Group on behalf of Germany as a center for science and business. In addition, the honor recognizes his exemplary volunteer work in the social sphere and his contribution to developing the next generation of scientists. Qioptiq director Gerd Litfin was awarded Germany’s Cross of Merit, First Class on Oct. 12 in Berlin. (Image: Qioptiq) The medal was presented Oct. 12, 2011, by Annette Schavan, professor and federal minister for education and research, at a ceremony in Berlin. "Voluntary work specifically at the interface between science and business is important, and it is an essential requirement of both entrepreneurs and scientists. I have always enjoyed my political consulting in particular, and I am delighted that this work is being honored today,“ Litfin said. Litfin was chairman of the board of the LINOS Group until the end of 2006. By taking over the companies Steeg & Reuter, Franke-Optik, Gsänger Optoelektronik and Rodenstock Präzisionsoptik, he built LINOS into a global photonics business. In 2006, LINOS was taken over by the Qioptiq Group. Litfin joined the board of directors and has continued to use his experience and scientific expertise to support the company’s business and technological development. As a professor at the Leibniz University of Hanover, Litfin has made a crucial contribution to the development of optical technologies, and in Germany’s photonics industry, he is regarded as an opinion leader. Qioptiq supplies photonic products for a wide range of markets and applications. For more information, visit: www.qioptiq.com