Prof. Dr. Walter E. Proebster

Career

After studying electrical engineering at TUM, Professor Proebster worked as a research assistant at the Telecommunications Institute of TUM where he was supported by a grant from DFG (German Research Foundation). This role involved being project manager for the development of the central computer and control units and of the input and output systems of “PERM” (TUM’s program controlled electronic computer). In 1956 he earned his doctoral degree for his work on the switching circuits of PERM. Subsequently he was project manager at IBM’s research laboratory in Zurich where he was involved in the development of an ultra fast memory which was used in two of IBM’s high speed computers. From 1962 to 1964 Professor Proebster was director of experimental machines at IBM’s research center in Yorktown, USA. On his return to Germany in 1964 and until 1973 he was director of IBM’s research and development laboratory in Böblingen near Stuttgart where he was responsible for the development of computer systems in the lower performance range, data printers, semiconductor technology, program systems and banking systems. For more than twenty years Professor Proebster also played an active role in IEEE, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, as head of the German section, as director of IEEE Region 8 and as IEEE secretary. After his retirement in 1989 he taught at TUM’s Institute for Informatics.

Functions

• Director, Research and Development Coordination, IBM (1973-1989)
  
• Director IBM Research and Development Laboratories, Böblingen (1964-1973)
  
• Director Experimental Systems, IBM Research Center Yorktown, USA (1962-1964)
  
• Project manager: Thin magnetic films: IBM Zurich laboratory (1956-1962)
  
• Project manager: switching systems: PERM, TUM (1951-1956)

Awards

• IEEE Haraden Pratt Award “Outstanding Service to IEEE” (1996)
• IEEE Fellow “For contributions to and technical leadership in the development of computer components and systems” (1977)
• IBM Patent Awards (1963, 1969, 1971)
• Outstanding Paper Award, ISSCC (International Solid-State Circuits Conference) (1962)
• NTG/VDE awards for best publications (1956, 1960)