The University of Technology Nuremberg (UTN) is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Dr. Michael Fraas as its new Kanzler. Michael Fraas will take up his post on 1 September 2025. On Tuesday, 29 July, he received his certificate of appointment from Markus Blume, Bavarian Minister of State for Science and the Arts.
Michael Fraas is currently Professor of Business Law and Transfer at the Technischen Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (Ohm). He brings extensive leadership experience from public administration, academia and the private sector. His career includes significant positions in consulting and law (Ernst & Young and Taylor Wessing Rechtsanwälte), in federal administration (in the former Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology) as well as in local government and location development (as a professional city councillor and representative of economic and science affairs to the city of Nuremberg).
Prof. Fraas’ expertise in legal, economic, academic and infrastructure-related issues makes him uniquely qualified to support the further growth and development of UTN. His deep roots in the region – he grew up in the south of Nuremberg and now lives there again – underscore his commitment and strong connection to the university’s mission and community.
“We are very happy to welcome Professor Fraas to UTN,” says Professor Dr. Michael Huth, Founding President of UTN. “His extensive professional experience, his background in science and public administration, and his deep regional connections will be invaluable as we continue to develop UTN into a regionally anchored and internationally excellent technical university.”
“Precisely because I was able to accompany the founding and development of UTN from the very beginning in my previous municipal role, it is all the more appealing to now serve as Kanzler at UTN. I look forward with respect to my new tasks, which include responsibility for personnel growth, construction measures, and the establishment and further development of structures. I look forward to tackling all of this together with the strong team at UTN!” says Michael Fraas himself.
Bavaria’s Minister of Science Markus Blume emphasises: “Michael Fraas is a strong and experienced leader – the right man in the right place. He knows the world of science as well as administration, has held prominent positions and, as a child of the city, has excellent connections in the region and far beyond. In short, he is the ideal candidate for the position of Kanzler of UTN. I look forward to working with him on the further development of our tenth and youngest state university – where vision becomes innovation.”
The President of Ohm, Prof. Dr. Niels Oberbeck, adds: “Dr. Fraas has made an outstanding contribution as a professor at Ohm and, in particular, has made important contributions to the further development of the transfer between university and practice. I hold him in high regard both professionally and personally. With his move to UTN, we are losing a valuable colleague, but we are gaining a valuable cooperation partner. I wish him every success in his exciting new role as Chancellor of UTN and look forward to working with him in the future.”
UTN President Michael Huth would like to take this opportunity to express his sincere thanks and appreciation to Dr. Doris Wolf, who has handled the extensive tasks of the chancellorship with great aplomb during the transition phase since May 2025. She will continue to serve as Deputy Kanzler after Michael Fraas takes office.
UTN is looking forward to a productive and visionary collaboration with Prof. Dr. Fraas, who is now taking on this new leadership role.
Images for download:
Picture 1: Minister Blume and Michael Fraas Copyright: Axel König/StMWK
Picture 2:Michael Fraas Copyright: Axel König/StMWK
About the University of Technology Nuremberg
The University of Technology Nuremberg (UTN), founded in 2021, is the first newly established public university in Bavaria since 1978. The UTN is a living laboratory building a university for the age of AI and the rapidly advancing changes in technology, business and society. The UTN strives to become a strong regional force in research, teaching and transfer and an internationally leading university of the 21st century with regional roots and a global outlook.
The 37-hectare, sustainable UTN campus will form the center of the new Lichtenreuth district in Nuremberg, close to the historic city center. Around 6,000 students, 200 professors and at least 2,000 employees will study and work there. Study programs will integrate aspects of technology, liberal arts, social sciences and natural sciences to ideally prepare students for the interdisciplinary requirements of the new world of work.
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Head of UnitCommunication Unit
Deputy Head of UnitCommunication Unit
The University of Technology Nuremberg (UTN) is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Dr. Michael Fraas as its new Kanzler. Michael Fraas will take up his post on 1 September 2025. On Tuesday, 29 July, he received his certificate of appointment from Markus Blume, Bavarian Minister of State for Science and the Arts.
Michael Fraas is currently Professor of Business Law and Transfer at the Technischen Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (Ohm). He brings extensive leadership experience from public administration, academia and the private sector. His career includes significant positions in consulting and law (Ernst & Young and Taylor Wessing Rechtsanwälte), in federal administration (in the former Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology) as well as in local government and location development (as a professional city councillor and representative of economic and science affairs to the city of Nuremberg).
Prof. Fraas’ expertise in legal, economic, academic and infrastructure-related issues makes him uniquely qualified to support the further growth and development of UTN. His deep roots in the region – he grew up in the south of Nuremberg and now lives there again – underscore his commitment and strong connection to the university’s mission and community.
“We are very happy to welcome Professor Fraas to UTN,” says Professor Dr. Michael Huth, Founding President of UTN. “His extensive professional experience, his background in science and public administration, and his deep regional connections will be invaluable as we continue to develop UTN into a regionally anchored and internationally excellent technical university.”
“Precisely because I was able to accompany the founding and development of UTN from the very beginning in my previous municipal role, it is all the more appealing to now serve as Kanzler at UTN. I look forward with respect to my new tasks, which include responsibility for personnel growth, construction measures, and the establishment and further development of structures. I look forward to tackling all of this together with the strong team at UTN!” says Michael Fraas himself.
Bavaria’s Minister of Science Markus Blume emphasises: “Michael Fraas is a strong and experienced leader – the right man in the right place. He knows the world of science as well as administration, has held prominent positions and, as a child of the city, has excellent connections in the region and far beyond. In short, he is the ideal candidate for the position of Kanzler of UTN. I look forward to working with him on the further development of our tenth and youngest state university – where vision becomes innovation.”
The President of Ohm, Prof. Dr. Niels Oberbeck, adds: “Dr. Fraas has made an outstanding contribution as a professor at Ohm and, in particular, has made important contributions to the further development of the transfer between university and practice. I hold him in high regard both professionally and personally. With his move to UTN, we are losing a valuable colleague, but we are gaining a valuable cooperation partner. I wish him every success in his exciting new role as Chancellor of UTN and look forward to working with him in the future.”
UTN President Michael Huth would like to take this opportunity to express his sincere thanks and appreciation to Dr. Doris Wolf, who has handled the extensive tasks of the chancellorship with great aplomb during the transition phase since May 2025. She will continue to serve as Deputy Kanzler after Michael Fraas takes office.
UTN is looking forward to a productive and visionary collaboration with Prof. Dr. Fraas, who is now taking on this new leadership role.
Images for download:
Picture 1: Minister Blume and Michael Fraas Copyright: Axel König/StMWK
Picture 2:Michael Fraas Copyright: Axel König/StMWK
About the University of Technology Nuremberg
The University of Technology Nuremberg (UTN), founded in 2021, is the first newly established public university in Bavaria since 1978. The UTN is a living laboratory building a university for the age of AI and the rapidly advancing changes in technology, business and society. The UTN strives to become a strong regional force in research, teaching and transfer and an internationally leading university of the 21st century with regional roots and a global outlook.
The 37-hectare, sustainable UTN campus will form the center of the new Lichtenreuth district in Nuremberg, close to the historic city center. Around 6,000 students, 200 professors and at least 2,000 employees will study and work there. Study programs will integrate aspects of technology, liberal arts, social sciences and natural sciences to ideally prepare students for the interdisciplinary requirements of the new world of work.
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Peter Diehl
Communication Unit
Agnes Pelzl
Communication Unit