Robert Semerad (CEO) started working on high temperature superconductor (HTS) films in 1994 at the Technical University of Munich. In 1996 W. Prusseit, R. Semerad and others established the THEVA GmbH as a spin off from the university. After finishing his thesis in 1999, he joined THEVA GmbH to become head of the wafer coating department. Under his lead numerous companies and universities worldwide have been supplied with high quality, large area superconducting thin films on oxide substrates. His long lasting experience with customers producing filters, electronics or power devices make him the expert of materials for HTS applications. Since the split between THEVA and Ceraco in 2012, Dr. Semerad acts as CEO of Ceraco.
Dr. Semerad was awarded with the Van Duzer Price in 2014 at the Applied Superconductivity Conference in Charlotte, NC.
Christian Hoffmann (CTO) received a PhD from the Technical University of Munich in 2003 for his work on deposition techniques in HTS thin film manufacturing. With joining THEVA GmbH in 2003 he introduced his novel evaporation technology for complex oxides to coated conductor manufacturing, which today is a key method both at THEVA and Ceraco. During appointments at Industrial Research Ltd. (NZ) and Superconductor Technologies Inc. (USA) he extended his expertise to HTS applications, working on the characterization of coated conductor properties and magnet related technologies. In 2012 he joined Ceraco and takes care of deposition systems, process development and development of new metrology tools.