Hans List

Hans List (April 30, 1896 in Graz, capital of Austria's federal province Styria – September 10, 1996 in Graz) was a technical scientist and inventor and entrepreneur.

After earning a doctorate in engineering at the Technical University in Graz, Hans List was appointed to the Tongji University in China (1926–1932), followed by teaching positions back home in Graz (1932–1941) and Dresden, Germany (until 1945). His research work yielded sensational insights into functionality and improvement of Diesel motors, and of combustion engines in general.

This is also the main field of work for the company he founded in 1948 on the basis of the engineering consultant office he had opened 1946: "Anstalt für Verbrennungskraftmaschinen (institute for combustion engines) Prof. Dr. Hans List" (Austria is, or at least was, somewhat addicted to titles, due to habits trained during its imperial past), abbreviated to AVL. This firm soon started to operate globally in the area of developing combustion engines, but also measuring techniques and modelling techniques. Roughly one thousand patents prove the company's competence, and numerous subsidiary companies round the globe stand for its economical success.