Ing. Juraj Gigac, PhD. after four years working in the Slavošov paper mill at Gemer, he has been working for 42 years in the Research Institute of Paper and Pulp in Bratislava, since 1997 as Director of the Paper Research Department. An important area of ​​research was the technology of production of graphic, technical and hygienic papers focused on optimal use of primary and secondary fibers. In the area of ​​basic research, he studied the structure and surface properties of paper as well as the implementation of non-contact, non-destructive evaluation methods. Recently, he has been involved in research into coating and sizing compositions, which are used in the development of new paper products such as water, oil and grease resistant paperboard, as well as paper for electronic printing and smart packaging.

Ing. Juraj Gigac, PhD. is the winner of the Slovak Minister of Education, Science, Research and Sport for Science and Technology in 2018 – Personality of Science and Technology for increasing the technological and ecological level of paper and board production with a focus on improving paper quality. In 2019, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic Pulp and Paper Industry Prize awarded him a lifetime achievement in paper technology research and the development of the paper industry.