Born in Klagenfurt in 1940, Gerhard Gritzner began his studies in "Technical Chemistry" in 1958 at the Vienna University of Technology, graduating in 1963 with an academic degree bearing a "Dipl. Ing" title. After earning a doctorate degree in 1965, Gerhard Gritzner then went on to become a visiting professor at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge (USA) and a senior research chemist at the Dow Chemical Company in Michigan (USA). Gritzner earned his habilitation/post-doc in 1978 and became a full professor for the Chemical Technology of Inorganic Substances at the JKU in 1979.

Prof. Gritzner's main areas of research included developing technological processes to manufacture inorganic products, taking raw materials, energy and by-products, advanced ceramics and superconductors into account.

The JKU will always remember Gerhard Gritzner as an outstanding educator, researcher, and expert in his field.