Plenary Speakers 2020
Dr. Michael Leiters
Chief Technology Officer of Ferrari
Dr. Michael Leiters was appointed as Ferrari’s Chief Technology Officer in January 2014. Prior to joining Ferrari Mr. Leiters worked at Porsche AG from 2000 to 2013 where he held multiple positions, ultimately becoming head of the SUV product line in 2010. From 1996 to 2000, he served as an engineer and manager at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology in Aachen. Mr. Leiters holds an engineering diploma and an engineering doctorate from RWTH Aachen University.
Dr. Michael Leiters was appointed as Ferrari’s Chief Technology Officer in January 2014. Prior to joining Ferrari Mr. Leiters worked at Porsche AG from 2000 to 2013 where he held multiple positions, ultimately becoming head of the SUV product line in 2010. From 1996 to 2000, he served as an engineer and manager at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology in Aachen. Mr. Leiters holds an engineering diploma and an engineering doctorate from RWTH Aachen University.
Dr. Ulrich Lages
Managing director and shareholder of Ibeo Automotive Systems GmbH
Dr. Ulrich Lages studied Mechanical Engineering at the Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg. Additionally, he achieved a Bachelor of Business Administration at the GSBA Zürich and an MBA at the University of Maryland, USA. Dr. Lages is the CEO and shareholder of Ibeo Automotive Systems GmbH, which he founded as part of his doctorate in 1998. Ibeo established itself as the worldwide technology leader for LiDAR-Sensors (Acronym for Light Detection and Ranging) as well as associated products and software tools. The technology is used in driver assistance systems in the automotive industry and in autonomous driving. Over 400 employees work at the three sites in Hamburg (Germany), Detroit (USA) and Eindhoven (The Netherlands).
Dr. Ulrich Lages studied Mechanical Engineering at the Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg. Additionally, he achieved a Bachelor of Business Administration at the GSBA Zürich and an MBA at the University of Maryland, USA. Dr. Lages is the CEO and shareholder of Ibeo Automotive Systems GmbH, which he founded as part of his doctorate in 1998. Ibeo established itself as the worldwide technology leader for LiDAR-Sensors (Acronym for Light Detection and Ranging) as well as associated products and software tools. The technology is used in driver assistance systems in the automotive industry and in autonomous driving. Over 400 employees work at the three sites in Hamburg (Germany), Detroit (USA) and Eindhoven (The Netherlands).
Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart
Minister of Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalization and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart, born in Seelscheid, Germany in 1960, after a banking apprenticeship he studied macroeconomics and business economics at the University of Münster and the University of Bonn from where he obtained his doctoral degree in 1991. He subsequently ran the office of Dr. Hermann Otto Solms, chairman of the FDP parliamentary group in the Bundestag, before continuing his academic career with professorships in Dusseldorf and Siegen. In 2002, he became a member of the German Bundestag and state chairman of the FDP (Free Democratic Party) in North Rhine-Westphalia. From 2005 until 2010, he was Minister for Innovation, Science, Research and Technology as well as Deputy Prime Minister in North Rhine-Westphalia. In 2011, he returned to the scientific sector. Until June 2017 Prof. Pinkwart was Dean of the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management and and ever since holds the Stiftungsfonds Deutsche Bank Chair for Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship. Since June 2017 he is Minister of Economics, Innovation, Digitalization and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart, born in Seelscheid, Germany in 1960, after a banking apprenticeship he studied macroeconomics and business economics at the University of Münster and the University of Bonn from where he obtained his doctoral degree in 1991. He subsequently ran the office of Dr. Hermann Otto Solms, chairman of the FDP parliamentary group in the Bundestag, before continuing his academic career with professorships in Dusseldorf and Siegen. In 2002, he became a member of the German Bundestag and state chairman of the FDP (Free Democratic Party) in North Rhine-Westphalia. From 2005 until 2010, he was Minister for Innovation, Science, Research and Technology as well as Deputy Prime Minister in North Rhine-Westphalia. In 2011, he returned to the scientific sector. Until June 2017 Prof. Pinkwart was Dean of the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management and and ever since holds the Stiftungsfonds Deutsche Bank Chair for Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship. Since June 2017 he is Minister of Economics, Innovation, Digitalization and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Prof. Dr. Dr. Udo Di Fabio
Chair of Public Law, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn
Born in 1954, Prof. Dr. Dr. Udo Di Fabio worked from 1970 to 1982 as a municipal officer for the city of Dinslaken. After completing his second state law examination in 1985, he worked for one year as a judge at the Social Court of Duisburg. In 1987, he first received his doctoral degree in law and three years later again in social sciences. In 1993, he successfully completed his habilitation in law at the University of Bonn. Between 1993 and 2003, he received his professorships of law at the universities of Muenster, Trier and Munich and has been employed at the University of Bonn ever since. From 1999 until 2011, he was also a judge at the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany. Since 2006 Prof. Dr. Dr. Udo Di Fabio is a member of the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences and Arts of North Rhine-Westphalia and since 2017 director of the “FnG” (interdisciplinary research institute analyzing the normative foundation of society) in Bonn.
Born in 1954, Prof. Dr. Dr. Udo Di Fabio worked from 1970 to 1982 as a municipal officer for the city of Dinslaken. After completing his second state law examination in 1985, he worked for one year as a judge at the Social Court of Duisburg. In 1987, he first received his doctoral degree in law and three years later again in social sciences. In 1993, he successfully completed his habilitation in law at the University of Bonn. Between 1993 and 2003, he received his professorships of law at the universities of Muenster, Trier and Munich and has been employed at the University of Bonn ever since. From 1999 until 2011, he was also a judge at the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany. Since 2006 Prof. Dr. Dr. Udo Di Fabio is a member of the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences and Arts of North Rhine-Westphalia and since 2017 director of the “FnG” (interdisciplinary research institute analyzing the normative foundation of society) in Bonn.