Director of Research & Innovation, Beneteau Group

Erwan earned an Engineering Degree in Materials Science (2006) in Normandy and a PhD in Chemistry (2010) from the University of Liverpool. He began his career at Arkema’s R&D center, developing new materials before moving to Valeo, where he contributed to automotive lighting innovations. After completing an Executive MBA at Audencia, he joined the Beneteau Group in 2019, first as Head of GRP Materials and later as Director of Research & Innovation. Since 2022, he has also led various company sustainability initiatives.

Global R&D Manager for Elium® Resin, Head of the GRL Composite Laboratory, Arkema

Pierre Gérard holds a PhD in Material Science from Lille University and is a specialist in composite materials. He is currently the Global R&D Manager for the acrylic liquid thermoplastic resin Elium® at Arkema, a specialty innovative and sustainable material provider. Previously involved in the physico-chemistry of acrylics and nanomaterials and then moving to Global R&D Head, he is now group leader of the composites lab at Arkema’s Lacq Research Group (GRL) and head of the recycling program.

Head of Engineering, Gurit

Paolo Manganelli holds a PhD in experimental investigation of dynamic loads on offshore racing yachts. He spent 10 years as a naval architect before joining Gurit, where he has worked for 16 years. His expertise includes structural design, composite materials, yacht design, onboard data acquisition, dynamics, hydro-elasticity, and sailing yacht structures. An avid sailor, he has crossed the Atlantic Ocean five times on racing boats.

Head of the EPFL Laboratory for Processing of Advanced Composites (LPAC)

Véronique Michaud leads the Laboratory for Processing of Advanced Composites at EPFL, where she has been a professor since 1997. She earned an engineering degree from Ecole des Mines (Paris, 1987), a PhD in Materials Engineering from MIT (1991), and a Research Habilitation from INPG (1994). Following a postdoctoral stay at MIT, she spent three years at Ecole Centrale Paris before joining EPFL. Her research focuses on composite materials processing, incorporating economic and environmental aspects to reduce product footprints. Since 2023, she has served as European Editor for Composites Part A.

Group R&D Director, Chomarat

Philippe Sanial has been Group R&D Director at Chomarat since 2004. A chemical engineer with a master’s in composite materials (DEA), he previously served as Project Manager and R&D Director of SBU Textiles from 1993 to 2004. Since 2021, he has been President of TECHTERA, the French textile competitiveness cluster. With over 20 years of experience in European and French textiles and composites collaborative programs, he has worked with institutions such as KUL, Imperial College, Ecole Centrale de Nantes, and INSA Lyon. He is also part of a scientific network led by Professor Steve Tsaï (Stanford University) focused on new approaches to composite design.