Alain Schumacher has a PhD in Physics with a strong background in the field of thin film physics and technologies from the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. With more than 20 years of R&D experience in the automotive industry, Alain Schumacher holds today the position as Chief Technology Officer at IEE. In this role, some of Alain’s many tasks include developing the company's strategy for using technological resources and evaluating and implementing new systems and infrastructures. Previously, as a head of IEE’s Materials Sciences department, Alain was responsible for managing IEE’s materials R&D team and to define road maps supporting the operational business as well as IEE’s innovation pipeline, placing the headstones for new product technologies. Within this scope, his team was tasked with the development, qualification and lab to fab implementation of materials for IEE’s safety and comfort products production. Being part of IEE’s innovation process, his team was jointly responsible for technology scouting and academic networking as well as for the acquisition of funded research projects on national and international level. As a member of the OE-A board, Alain Schumacher took over the position of Vice Chairman Europe.